Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has lamented his side's lack of quality in the final third in their defeat to Sunderland at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles dominated possession throughout the contest, but failed to carve out a clear-cut opportunity to break down the Black Cats.
Jermain Defoe scored 10 minutes from time to hand the visitors their first win on the road this season, leading Pardew to bemoan his team's lack of clinical edge.
He told the club's official website: "You've got to win a game of football to go sixth. We overdid it a couple of times tonight. We should have been a bit more simplistic and put pressure on that back five.
"In a way it's a compliment that teams are going to put five at the back and three on top of that. Unfortunately we couldn't find a way through tonight.
"We should have been cleaner and more incisive, especially in the final third."
Palace are 10th in the Premier League following their defeat to Sunderland.
Simon Sinclair
