SUNDERLAND saw their recent seven-match unbeaten run come to an end at an icy fog-bound Crystal Palace last night.

The 1-0 defeat courtesy of a first half Mark Hudson strike leaves the Black Cats suspended in 11th place and mid-table mediocrity ahead of the rest of this afternoon's Championship fixtures.

The unmarked Eagles' centre-half found the net from 15 yards after the Black Cats' defence failed to deal with a routine deep ball from the left and striker Shefki Kuqi headed back across the goal for Hudson to score.

Prior to the strike Sunderland largely dominated the clash and will be disappointed not to take anything from the game, but they were punished for wasting two gilt-edged opportunities.

Keane revealed pre-match he was not enjoying life as a manager and it is unlikely he would have gained much pleasure from this outing to Selhurst Park.

The visitors, as they have done on several other occasions this season, grafted hard, gave their all but lacked any outstanding quality to rescue the game. This, however, can be said of most Championship sides this term as there is little separating the 24 clubs in terms of class.

The versatile Dean Whitehead, one of only two players - along with Steve Caldwell - left from the Sunderland team which defeated Palace in the FA Cup third round a little under two years ago, believes the sign of a good side is one who play badly yet picks up points.

It is open to conjecture what a mixed performance and bad result would conclude.

Yet despite the defeat Sunderland are still nicely poised ahead of the festive fixtures with Leeds, Preston and Leicester City, to make an assault on promotion at the turn of the year. This of course depends on who arrives on Wearside in January.

Keane made three changes to the side which clawed a last-gasp draw at Burnley last weekend. Out went Ross Wallace, Dwight Yorke and Stephen Elliott, who has a hamstring injury. Nyron Nosworthy returned at right back, Liam Miller replaced Yorke and Whitehead returned to a more familiar midfield position on the right.

The visitors employed a 4-5-1 formation with David Connolly playing up front with Daryl Murphy on the left of midfield, and Grant Leadbitter supporting the striker in an advanced role.

The visitors largely dominated the opening period but were made to pay because they were unable to capitalise on their possession.

Miller should have put Sunderland ahead after only eight minutes, but he wasted the opportunity when he blasted wide from a central left position inside the 18-yard box.

Five minutes later another chance was missed when Murphy's beautifully weighted pass picked out Leadbitter's well-timed run. He beat the Palace offside trap only to drag his shot wide.

But the Eagles made known they were not going to lie down in front of their home fans and hit back soon after.

Mark Kennedy had a deflected shot well saved by Darren Ward before Clinton Morrison spurned an excellent opportunity thanks to Kuqi's sublime vision.

The visitors continued to boss the first half and forced several corners but never managed to create another opening. They eventually made to pay for it five minutes before the break when an unmarked Hudson fired the home side in front.

A deep cross from the right was headed back across the goal by Kuqi and the centre half kindly obliged with a fine finish.

The second half carried on in a similar fashion with Sunderland enjoying most of the ball and forcing a succession of corners but unable to find a finish.

Whitehead, Wallace and Varga all had opportunities to level but found a resilient Eagles back line hard to break down and lost for the first time in seven games.

Keane is sure to add to his ranks during next month's transfer window but who comes in and how much he has to spend is clouded in secrecy.

The Black Cats boss is believed to be going back to raid his old club Manchester United for experienced striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

It is too soon to know whether the defeat is anything other than a slight setback as there is still more than half a season to play. But they can't afford to make too many of these between now and May and, they have a perfect opportunity to get back on track when Dennis Wise's team visit on Boxing Day