Premier League: Sunderland's Gus Poyet relieved after beating Crystal Palace

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet believes Monday night's 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace will represent a turning point in his club's season.

Two goals from Steven Fletcher either side of a Jordi Gomez strike gave Sunderland the points at Selhurst Park, although the visitors did have to endure a Wes Brown own goal.

Brown’s blunder was the fourth own goal Sunderland have let in this season and came on the back of conceding 10 times in their two previous games, including an 8-0 humiliation at Southampton. 

But Poyet’s team still managed to record a first away win in the 2014/15 Premier League to move out of the relegation zone.

I think it is going to be very different now. It is incredible that you can be training well, doing things right and, because of one terrible accident at Southampton, you keep that feeling inside you for a couple of weeks

Poyet told Sky Sports after beating Palace: “It means a lot. It means more than anyone can think. 

“It was a difficult couple of weeks. It looked like everything we had done in the beginning of the season was thrown away, because of a couple of games.

“The idea was to come back somehow. Sometimes it is not about playing nice, it is about the basics.”

Poyet added: “I think it is going to be very different now. It is incredible that you can be training well, doing things right and, because of one terrible accident at Southampton, you keep that feeling inside you for a couple of weeks.

“You need to get rid of them [those feelings] and the only way to do it is by winning a football game.”

It could have been a different story for Sunderland had they conceded a penalty inside the opening 25 seconds against Palace when Santiago Vergini appeared to bring down Fraizer Campbell.

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Palace manager Neil Warnock, who saw his captain, Mile Jedinak, sent off late on for two bookings, was furious with the decision not to award his team a spot-kick but Poyet hopes the situation may mark another change in fortune for his club.

“Yes, I was,” admitted the South American when asked if his heart had been in his mouth at Palace’s penalty claim.

“I did not know if it was [a penalty] or not at that time. But after seeing Mr Warnock talking to people and coming with information from the top, saying that it was, maybe you think, ‘you know what? We were lucky for once’.”

Poyet also joked with Sky Sports expert Jamie Carragher about Brown’s own goal, with Carragher having scored seven own goals in the Premier League in his playing career.

But the Sunderland boss did not blame Brown, as he said: “It is something that players have got a desire to defend, be there first and be in the right position to clear. 

“Sometimes you are the one taking the biggest risk.”