SAM ALLARDYCE last night challenged his effective Sunderland team to make it six points from six this weekend after a “precious” victory at Crystal Palace that he hopes will fill his players with the confidence to survive in the Premier League.

The Black Cats won away from home for the first time this season courtesy of Jermain Defoe’s predatory finish ten minutes from time to defeat an attack-minded Palace under the management of former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew.

Sunderland defended doggedly from start to finish to keep Palace, spearheaded by Connor Wickham who was withdrawn goalless in the second half, at bay and close the gap to safety to just a point ahead of Saturday’s visit of Stoke to the North-East.

It was a typical, fashionable, counter-attacking style win at Selhurst Park of the sort that many teams are doing now in the modern game and Allardyce hopes a marginal win over the Eagles will lay the foundations for a charge up the table.

“I have no problem winning 1-0, playing exactly the way Palace do away from home, playing deep and hitting on the break,” said Allardyce. “Palace do it better than us but we have done it sufficiently to win 1-0 here.

“If we have to be resilient, determined and dogged then fine because our two victories have come from two clean sheets. Palace have just come back from beating Liverpool away, that’s how good they are. We, as a team, have nullified that threat. We have frustrated Zaha, nullified Bolasie.

“If our passing had been better we may have created one or two more chances. I do know that the goal was a mistake by the opposition, but that’s what you do. You capitalise if there is mistake. It’s nice to see us capitalising on a mistake and not a team doing it to us for a change. It is massive victory for us.”

Allardyce reverted to a five-man defence – including three centre-backs – despite losing 6-2 at Everton playing in a similar way last month, but this time it got its rewards.

He said: “I really like the system. With Jermain and Steven Fletcher up front, our two goalscorers, if they get an opportunity we get a chance. When you preserve like that and you take full advantage then it is very precious to win, that is a very precious win for us.

“In away terms we had to frustrate the opposition. We are trying to rebuild our confidence and the only way to do that is points on the board. We got what we wanted.

“The Sunderland fans will wake up with three points on the board and hopefully we can turn that in to another win on Saturday because two wins in a row at this level is massive. Stoke will be a really tough game for us but hopefully the resilience we showed here bodes well as we look to move forward.”

Defoe scored his fourth league goal of the season after another weekend when there has been speculation that he will be sold in the New Year.

But Allardyce said: “We can play with Steven Fletcher and Jermain up front, if we stay as resilient as we did today then those two can score goals.

“If they can do the conversion rate we know they can then we know that one in two chances will be a goal for us. When you have someone like that it will be crucial at this level.

“The main thing is how to get those two playing up front together. Today has hopefully shown me a little bit. When you have someone with goalscoring ability then what might have been a draw might be a victory for us. For a struggling club we have plenty of attacking options.

“I read in a paper I was selling him, with the window coming, and then I am asking him to play. The only one who I have said I am letting go is Liam Bridcutt. The rest have to join the fight.

“I don’t know what will happen in January. I am trying to get these players playing to the maximum because that is easier than going out in the transfer window and signing players.”

Defoe, who rounded goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to find the net after defender Scott Dann had got in a mess, said: “The lads worked hard. We put the work in during the international break and it paid off.

“I got that little bit of luck that you need for the goal and I was just delighted. The manager has been fantastic. He has got the lads working hard.”