Crystal Palace 1 Sunderland 0Sunderland paid for their profligacy in front of goal as Mark Hudson's first-half strike brought an end to their unbeaten run at a foggy Selhurst Park.
Roy Keane's men enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to make the most of their chances, and Hudson made them pay with a well-taken half-volley after 41 minutes, just his second goal of the season.
Striker Dougie Freedman was back on the bench for Palace, who made three changes from the side beaten 1-0 at Derby last time out. Danny Butterfield, Gary Borrowdale and Carl Fletcher all came in for the Eagles.
Nyron Nosworthy returned to Sunderland's starting line-up after recovering from an abdominal strain, with Dean Whitehead reverting to his more accustomed midfield role.
Graham Kavanagh and Liam Miller also started.
Sunderland, who were seven games unbeaten going into the game, had the first chance in the eighth minute, but Miller's well-struck shot whistled wide.
The visitors went on to dominate the early stages, with David Connolly playing a defence-splitting pass through to Grant Leadbitter after 14 minutes but his effort from a tight angle skidded wide.
Palace responded with two quickfire opportunities.
Mark Kennedy's 25-yard shot took a deflection off Kavanagh's heel, making it difficult for goalkeeper Darren Ward to push the ball to safety.
Moments later Shefki Kuqi's neat through ball set Clinton Morrison clear but he dragged his effort well wide.
Palace snatched the lead before the break. A deep cross from Butterfield found Kuqi who cushioned a header into the path of Hudson and the defender leaning back, fired a half-volley into the bottom corner.
Peter Taylor's men came close to a second shortly afterwards when Danny Collins missed his header and the ball fell to Tom Soares, but Sunderland defender made amends as he threw himself in front of the winger's goal-bound shot.
Sunderland started the second half brightly, with Palace defender Darren Ward blocking a fierce drive from Miller and Kavanagh firing a shot straight at Julian Speroni.
Whitehead did well to direct a header goalwards on the hour but his attempt was inches over, and Hudson's head took the sting out of a Ross Wallace shot moments later, allowing Speroni to make a comfortable save.
It was all Sunderland as time ticked away, and a neat ball from Danny Collins gave Wallace a shooting chance but he was in an offside position as Speroni saved.
Speroni was the hero with just over 10 minutes remaining as he pushed a Stanislav Varga header over the crossbar, while Palace felt they should have had a penalty when Varga bundled over substitute Freedman in the box.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Speroni, Ward, Hudson, Butterfield, Borrowdale, McAnuff, Soares, Fletcher, Kennedy (Lawrence 89), Morrison (Freedman 83), Kuqi (Scowcroft 71). Subs not used: Flinders, Reich. Booked: Fletcher. Goals: Hudson 41.
SUNDERLAND: Ward, Caldwell, Varga, Nosworthy, Collins, Whitehead, Leadbitter (Wallace 60), Kavanagh, Miller (Yorke 75), Murphy (Brown 75), Connolly. Subs not used: Fulop, Nyatanga. Booked: Varga.
Referee: L Probert (Gloucestershire).
