Sunderland have claimed a vital win in their battle to avoid the drop after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in their Premier League meeting at Selhurst Park this evening.
The visitors created a number of openings in the early stages and Steven Fletcher fired over the bar, before Defoe crashed an effort narrowly wide of the target.
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Palace soon showed their threat on the break and Yannick Bolasie fired in a shot from distance that proved comfortable for Costel Pantilimon.
It was Palace who were next to threaten as James McArthur was given space to drive forward, before unleashing a stinging effort that was again easily stopped by Pantilimon.
At the end of the first half Yohan Cabaye had another opening for Palace after picking up a loose clearance on the edge of the box, but his attempt sailed well wide of the post.
The teams headed into the break on level terms, but within minutes of the restart Cabaye was forced to clear a headed effort from Sebastian Coates off the line.
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Cabaye was heavily involved again moments later as he powered in a fierce drive that was beaten away to safety by Pantilimon.
Palace continued to look more threatening going forward and Bakary Sako tried his luck with a curling effort that went narrowly wide of the far post, before Bolasie fired straight at the keeper.
However, with 10 minutes left to play it was Sunderland who took the lead, as Scott Dann failed to deal with a ball through the middle, allowing Defoe to run onto his poor clearance and slot into an empty net past the stranded Wayne Hennessey.
Within minutes Pantilimon was forced into a save from Cabaye's powerful strike, but it was as close as Palace came to an equaliser, as the Black Cats held on to claim only their second league win of the season.
Alex Meyers
