SUNDERLAND manager Gus Poyet admitted Crystal Palace's gameplan worked as the relegation rivals played out a 0-0 draw on Wearside.
In a game of few chances, Sunderland's Fabio Borini hit the woodwork while, at the other end, KG Dikgacoi squandered a late opportunity to win it for Palace.
Poyet, former boss at Palace's arch-rivals Brighton, said after the game: "We tried everything, that is all we could do.
"That is the way to perform, to take the game to the opposition, to be in control to try crosses, free-kicks, shots, in-behind, one-twos - but to score is the most difficult part of the game and the opposition play a part.
"They have a plan - a very respectable plan - and today we could not score, but I am calm today because the players gave everything they had for this club and the fans."
The draw keeps Palace one place and three points above Sunderland in 17th, though the Black Cats have two games in hand.
