Yannick Bolasie's hat-trick helps Palace sink Sunderland back into relegation zone dogfight with 4-1 win

Congolese footballer Yannick Bolasie pushed Sunderland back into the relegation zone dogfight as he fired a hat-trick for Crystal Palace in his side's 4-1 victory at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Bolasie hadn't scored for Palace since September, but the Congo international ended the drought in spectacular fashion to hand new Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat a second defeat from his three matches in charge.

Advocaat had hoped last weekend's triumph over local rivals Newcastle United would provide the spark to lift Sunderland away from the bottom three, but they remain just three points above the relegation zone following a humiliating defeat at the hands of Palace, Sport24 reported.

Glenn Murray opened the floodgates when he put Palace ahead early in the second half, but it was Bolasie who stole the show with a hat-trick in the space of 11 minutes.

Connor Wickham's last minute goal was no consolation for Sunderland, and Palace's fifth win in their last six matches extended their superb run since Alan Pardew replaced Neil Warnock as manager at the start of this year, the report added.