AFTER the party, the hangover. Less than a week after winning the north-east derby, Sunderland were brought back to earth by a rampant Crystal Palace, who plundered three goals in five second-half minutes before adding a fourth just for good measure.

“You can see what can change in six days,” said a shocked Dick Advocaat. “After a good performance against Newcastle, we just were not in the game today.

“Even in the first half, Crystal Palace were already a little bit the better team.

“I’m worried,” he added, “but I think I’m as worried as the other coaches in the same position.

“I knew when I started that it would be very difficult, but still we have to be confident that we can do something; we still have six games to go.”

Sunderland’s second-half performance was as bad as any this season.

Most of the 42,000-strong crowd had left long before the final whistle. It wasn’t shock, just weary resignation that led them to the exits.

Yet, during the first half there was no hint of the utter capitulation to come. Palace created the better chances, but it was Sunderland that had the only shot on target.

Then, after the break, the hosts threw away their good work. Billy Jones and John O’Shea in particular were culpable as Glenn Murray opened the scoring before Yannick Bolasie grabbed a hat-trick — the first by a Palace player in the Premier League.

“My team was excellent today,” said Palace manager Alan Pardew, though he wouldn’t be drawn on whether the result gave him any satisfaction following the defeats he suffered against Sunderland while at Newcastle.

“It was a performance as a manager that you can just be proud of.

“They were emphatic in what they did and no disrespect to Palace but I think the score slightly flattered them.”