Sunderland snatched a dramatic winner in the third minute of stoppage time from the penalty spot after conceding a 90th minute equaliser to a determined Crystal Palace side.
Marcus Stewart kept his cool after referee Graham Salisbury ruled Shaun Derry had handled from a left-wing centre to score for the fourth successive game.
But the decision riled Palace manager Steve Kember who claimed Sunderland defender Gary Breen had handled only minutes earlier without penalising the Republic of Ireland international.
"Breen told me after the game he had handled the ball but the referee said it was accidently,'' said Kember.
"He gave Sunderland's when the ball struck Shaun Derry on the hand after the ball had come off his head.
"We battled well to get back into it but that's the way things go sometimes and we now have to look to Tuesday's match with Bradford.
"Sunderland created more chances in the first half and could have claimed the second goal but we invited them to smash balls into the box and so to a certain extent we created our own problems.'' Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy hailed the performances of several of his players, including Kevin Kyle. The Scotland international notched his first league goal for the club in 33 attempts when latching on to a throughball from Breen in the 46th minute.
"I am very pleased for the lad,'' he said. He works tirelessly and he has improved no end.
"Gary Breen has an excellent influence and Julio Arca has made a huge difference in defence, he is a much better defender than anyone thought.'' Sunderland enjoyed most of the play but almost paid the penalty for their complacency when Andrew Johnson fired home in the 90th minute, but to no avail thanks partly to the time added for the goal celebrations.
Sunderland captain Jason McAteer's comeback from injury lasted just 34 minutes, the Republic of Ireland international limping off with a recurrence of a long-standing groin problem.