Bolasie’s quickfire treble puts an end to Pardew’s pain

HE came for revenge and left having inflicted a humiliating defeat which leaves sorry Sunderland perhaps regretting they ever crossed Alan Pardew.

The Crystal Palace boss would not admit as much, but the grin he wore in the wake of Yannick Bolasie’s hat-trick goal told of his satisfaction.

Four times on the spin he suffered defeat as Newcastle manager in Tyne-Wear derbies.

It was a ruinous run which fractured his relationship with the club’s fans and contributed towards his decision to quit for Palace in January.

This was his first trip back to the North-East and how he enjoyed it.

Palace, who now have 25 points from 36 under his care, were devastating yesterday, a ruthless and unforgiving frontline of Bolasie, Glenn Murray, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha proving too powerful and too fast for a Black Cats defence running out of lives.

Manager Dick Advocaat watched them surrender to four goals inside 14 minutes at the start of the second half.

Last weekend, he was celebrating a derby victory and there was talk of him extending his stay beyond the end of this season. Sunderland, though, are heading for the Championship and Advocaat’s reputation is on the line.

Pardew’s standing, however, has never been higher and he hailed the players who have now won four on the bounce.

He said: ‘We’re bang in form and the scoreline flattered Sunderland. I’m surprised Bolasie hasn’t scored more goals. He is the first Palace player to get a Premier League hat-trick.’

This latest collapse leaves Sunderland just three points above the drop zone and Advocaat said: ‘I was shocked. You can see what can change in just six days.

‘I knew when I started this job that it would be difficult. We still have six games. We can still stay up. We need to get our confidence back.’

Palace broke the first-half tedium with their early blitz after the break.

Bolasie was the provider for the first in 48 minutes. His cross was deflected to Murray, who headed home from four yards for his sixth goal in as many matches.

Within three minutes, the Congolese had his first, shooting past Costel Pantilimon.

Palace were three in front in the 53rd minute, Bolasie pouncing to rob the dithering John O’Shea before lifting it over the goalkeeper.

He did not have to wait long for his hat-trick, Murray again the creator.

Sunderland finally scored through Connor Wickham but news of Leicester and Aston Villa’s victories has them looking down once more.