MART POOM became the 11th Sunderland player to be shown the red card this season as Mick McCarthy's men suffered a night they will want to forget.

The Black Cats slumped to their third successive defeat at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace strengthened their own bid to finish in the top six with a comfortable victory.

Now Sunderland, who have just four games left to play, need to recapture some good form quickly or risk the unthinkable of missing out on a play-off place themselves.

Palace climbed up to seventh with this win and now sit just four points behind Sunderland who still occupy third place.

The biggest party of the night will not have been held by Iain Dowie's side, though, as Norwich City's place in the Premiership in August has now been confirmed - with West Brom likely to join them this weekend.

With the score goalless Poom conceded a penalty when he brought down striker Andy Johnson with 70 minutes left to play.

Poom saw red and Johnson stepped up to convert his 23rd League goal of the campaign fromthe spot.

A goal each from Neil Shipperley, a header, and Dougie Freedman, a stunning volley, in the second half clinched all three points for Palace.

After losing two games on the bounce for the first time since August, it was seen as imperative that Sunderland stopped the rot to try to re-equip themselves ahead of a likely play-off push - but there was no such joy.

The weekend disappointment led to McCarthy bringing back club captain Jason McAteer, striker Kevin Kyle and winger Matt Piper.

Sunderland started like a side drained of confidence, with Palace getting first to most of the loose balls.

There were early mistakes from a number of visiting players with Gary Breen's weak back pass very nearly costing his side dear just seven minutes in.

Powerful forward Shipperley had already gone close with a header before Breen failed to put enough weight on a routine pass to Poom. The keeper reacted first and managed to clear before Shipperley blocked.

Danger signs had set in far too early for Sunderland's liking and Poom had to be alert again when he got down low to turn a 20-yard effort from right-midfielder Wayne Routledge behind.

And it was more adventurous link-up play from Palace that led to Poom's dismissal. Julian Gray's first time pass, after Shipperley's ball out wide, freed Johnson who was wiped out by Sunderland's No 1 just inside the area.

After taking his time, referee Phil Dowd pulled the red card out of his pocket and on came Thomas Myhre for Tommy Smith, who was sacrificed.

Myhre, who turned down the chance to sign for the Eagles after a successful three-month loan earlier in the campaign, did not have a happy return to Selhurst Park and his first job was to fish the ball out of the net after Johnson powered his spot-kick straight down the middle.

Palace won the territorial battle for possession yet Myhre never really had another save to make before half-time; with Routledge and Johnson failing to find the target.

The home side's failure to make the most of their numerical advantage went largely unpunished and a change of approach from McCarthy was needed when the two sides returned to the field.

A McAteer right-foot volley flew wide and Darren Byfield's tamefully hit shot rolled into the arms of goalkeeper Nico Vaesen - that was all Sunderland had to show from a below par opening 45 minutes.

Those left on the pitch for Sunderland did not shirk their responsibilties and whatever McCarthy said had the desired effect - initially.

There was a steely determination from the ten men to find an equaliser but they still struggled to trouble Vaesen in the Palace goal.

As Sunderland pushed forward they had to stay aware of the threat from the Londoners' potent strikeforce.

And, after Routledge had put him clear, Johnson looked like making it two but his shot flew straight at Myhre.

But the Selhurst crowd did not have to wait too much longer and with 27 minutes remaining the killer blow arrived.

Johnson burst down the right wing and crossed perfectly onto the diving head of Shipperley as the ball crashed past Myhre.

The hard-working Whitley battled hard in the middle and he had a 25-yard shot well saved by Vaesen.

But this was Palace's night and substitute Freedman fired in a sweet volley with ten minutes remaining to wrap things up.

Result: Crystal Palace 3 Sunderland 0.

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