Sunderland have rescued a point at the death and ensured they are outside the drop zone, following a topsy turvy 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace.
Dame N’Doye’s speculative shot from 25 yards was deflected by Scott Dann past a despairing Wayne Hennessey on 36 minutes to give the hosts a lead.
It was a wretched half for the visitors who mustered just one shot on target and needed to respond strongly in the second period.
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And after the break they got their just rewards on the hour mark through their in-form striker Connor Wickham, who smashed in a lovely curling effort to the far corner.
Five minutes later and Wickham scored his fourth goal in two games when he converted from close range, after a goalmouth scramble following a corner kick.
It looked like Crystal Palace would snap their horrid run of form with a priceless three points, only for substitute Fabio Borini to fire in an outrageous equaliser from a ridiculous angle.
The result means Sunderland sit 17th on goal difference to Norwich City with 24 points, while Palace are 14th on 33 points.
Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter:
Takes some stick but Jack Rodwell put a shift in today didn't take much but stood out in that midfield ?? cheers Geoff #safc
— ®Liall Wilkinson® (@liallwilkinson) March 1, 2016
Fabio Borini has just provided CPR to Sunderland's survival hopes #safc
— Chris Young (@YoungSunEcho) March 1, 2016
Ironic it was nearly Wickham, the man who kept #Safc in the league to then sending us down. Thank you @borinifabio29 for getting the point!
— D_Man (@Dazzerman06) March 1, 2016
don't know how people can applaud that, we were awful tonight #safc
— owen (@Owennn_Marsh) March 1, 2016
We were absolutely wank for almost the entire game, but that's 5 points we've picked up from late goals recently #SAFC
— Andrew Purcell (@AndySAFC) March 1, 2016
Hennessy is not the only one out of form and out of sorts but he needs replacing now for confidence of whole team. #cpfc
— Steve S (@Steviebab) March 1, 2016
When we can defend we can't score. When we can attack we can't defend. So infuriating. Anyway onwards and upwards to Liverpool. #CPFC
— Nicholas Georghiou (@nlg070301) March 1, 2016
Worse thing is if we limp to safety I have no faith that Parish will make the signings we so desperately need for next season #cpfc
— Young Trolley (@fieldhouse73) March 1, 2016
Passion, just what's needed in the position we're in @borinifabio29 #SAFC pic.twitter.com/RBW3nMphKo
— Anth (@1973anth03) March 1, 2016
We should've/could've drawn Saturday.
We should've/could've won tonight.
Things aren't as bad as you think.
7 points max from safety.#cpfc— Julian Chenery (@julianchenery) March 1, 2016
Obviously I'll take that point but my word, Hennessey needs to be positioned better. He should not be beaten by Borini from that angle #cpfc
— Richard Cœur de Lion (@richardterry85) March 1, 2016
You just knew Wickham would come back to haunt us tonight, shame he couldn't play like that for us. #SAFC
— George Bulmer (@GeorgeB1960) March 1, 2016
We need to start keeping clean sheets like, we can't keep conceding the type of goals we are and expect to stay up #safc
— Adam (@ajr2492) March 1, 2016
Allardyce on Borini winner: "Pace, power, accuracy. That should have been the winner though. Our frailties have come to light again." #SAFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) March 1, 2016
I've seen more urgency in a retirement home bingo hour than that second half #safc
— Anthony Mongan (@AnthMongan3) March 1, 2016
Pardew out? And replace him with who? Much better performance and results will come. ?? #cpfc
— Jack Bradford (@Jackk_Bradford) March 1, 2016
Has Cabaye been Space Jammed since Christmas? He was so influential early season but goes missing in games now #cpfc
— Ryan Hirons (@LifeOfHirons) March 1, 2016
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