text: 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 Tyneside for south London in January. Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie was the hero at the Stadium of Light having scored a hat-trick for the Eagles against Sunderland . Crystal Palace players surround opening goal scorer Glenn Murray during the comprehensive winner at the Stadium of Light on Saturday . The Sunderland defence can only watch on as the in-form Bolasie fired the visitors into an unassailable lead on Saturday . Bolasie sprints away in celebration having scored a second-half hat-trick in just over 10 minutes at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon . This was his first trip back to the North East and boy did he enjoy it. Palace now have 25 points from a possible 36 under his care and the table for 2015 alone has the Eagles soaring in fifth, two points behind champions elect Chelsea. His team were devastating on Saturday, 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 which is fast running out of lives. Dick Advocaat was perhaps wishing he had remained in Holland as he watched them surrender to four goals inside 17 minutes at the start of the second half. Sunderland (4-3-3): Pantilimon 4.5; Jones 5, Vergini 4, O'Shea 3.5, Van Aanholt 5; Rodwell 5, Cattermole 5 (Bridcutt 64, 5), Gomez 4.5 (Johnson 60, 5); Defoe 5, Fletcher 5.5, Wickham 6 . Subs not used: Reveillere, Graham, Coates, Mannone, Buckley. Scorer: Wickham 89 . Booked: Rodwell, Cattermole . Manager: Dick Advocaat 5 . Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Speroni 6; Ward 6, Dann 7, Delaney 6.5, Souare 6 (Kelly 35, 6); Zaha 7.5, McArthur 6.5 (Ledley 69, 6), Jedinak 6.5, Puncheon 7; Bolasie 9 (Sanogo 71), Murray 7.5 . Subs not used: Hangeland, Hennessey, Gayle, Ameobi . Scorers: Murray 48, Bolasie 51, 54, 62 . Booked: Dann, McArthur . Manager: Alan Pardew 8 . Referee: Anthony Taylor  6 . Attendance: 42,073 . MOM: Yannick Bolasie . CLICK HERE to view our brilliant Match Zone – including Glenn Murray's opener . Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha evades the attention of Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher during the Premier League contest . James McArthur challenges Black Cats striker Connor Wickham at the Stadium of Light as Crystal Palace stormed to victory . Last weekend he was celebrating a Tyne-Wear 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. He resisted temptation to crow over the identity of the victims and instead hailed the players who have now won four on the bounce. 'We were excellent. We were almost unplayable,' said Pardew. 'We're a team that is bang in form and as a manager you can only be so proud. The scoreline flattered Sunderland a little bit. That front quartet were irresistible at times. We are an honest group with that pace and power and that makes us a very dangerous team.' Bolasie's treble bettered his total from the entirety of this campaign. And Pardew added: 'I'm surprised he hasn't scored more goals. He's the first Palace player to get a Premier League hat-trick as well, so that is a surprise. 'He's at an age where he is improving. The final moment still needs to improve but he was excellent in that respect here.' Santiago Vergini of Sunderland attempts to clear the ball with a rapid Yannick Bolasie fast approaching in mid air . Alan Pardew's side were headed into a second-half lead thanks to this effort from striker Glenn Murray on 48 minutes . The 31-year-old runs away to celebrate having opened the scoring early in the second-half against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light . Jason Puncheon of Crystal Palace attempts to challenge Sunderland's Jack Rodwell in the air during the Premier League clash . Lee Cattermole fends off interest from Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur but couldn't prevent a heavy loss for the home side . Zaha joins an ecstatic Bolasie (left) after the Congolese forward produced a stunning hat-trick in the second-half against Sunderland . Advocaat had watched from home in Holland four weeks ago as Aston Villa won 4-0 at the Stadium of Light. This latest collapse leaves them just two places and three points above the drop zone. And the new boss said: 'I was shocked. You can see what can change in just six days. We were not in the game. Even in the first half Palace were better. 'We gave it all away inside just seven minutes. The work-rate from their strikers and the pace they have made it very difficult. We did not create any chances. That is a big concern. 'But 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.' Bolasie made a point to go and celebrate with Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew after his quick-fire hat-trick during the 4-1 victory . Sunderland strikers Steven Fletcher and Jermain Defoe can't hide their disappointment having been comprehensively beaten on Saturday . The first half had been a depressing demonstration of two sides fouling one another, an occasional half-chance punctuating the boredom. Jack Rodwell lunged recklessly into the leg of James McArthur with the ball long gone and was lucky to see just yellow. We did see red moments later, albeit the blood streaming from Costel Pantilimon's mouth after Scott Dann planted his boot in the goalkeeper's face when competing for a loose ball. Dann, in fairness, was unfortunate to be booked. And the game soon had its third caution when Lee Cattermole, having been robbed by Bolasie on halfway, desperately hauled the forward back by the trim of his shirt. Palace, though, broke the tedium with their early blitz after the break. Bolasie was the provider for the opener when his cross was deflected onto the brow of Murray, who planted home from four yards for his sixth goal in as many matches. Murray tries to keep possession under the attention of Sunderland captain John O'Shea during the contest at the Stadium of Light . The stands emptied during the second-half at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland conceded four goals in quick succession . Bolasie applauds the travelling fans holding the match ball after helping Crystal Palace to a 4-1 victory at Sunderland with a fine hat-trick . Within three minutes the livewire Congolese had his first. Dann loaded a ball forward from his own half, Murray rose to flick on and Bolasie escaped to poke through Pantilimon. The visitors were three in front come the 54th minute, and again a long ball proved Sunderland's undoing as Bolasie pounced to rob the dithering John O'Shea before lifting over Pantilimon. He did not have to wait long for his hat-trick. Palace broke through Murray down the right and he squared for Bolasie who, after out-scrapping Pantilimon and Santiago Vergini, poked home for his first senior treble. Sunderland did steal a barely deserved consolation when Connor Wickham turned in Patrick Van Aanholt's cross, but it mattered not and news of Leicester and Aston Villa's victories has them looking down once more. For Pardew, things are very much looking up.
target: Alan Pardew's side scored second-half treble within five minutes to secure the three points .
  Glenn Murray fired the Eagles ahead with his sixth goal in as many matches for the away side .
  Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie scored a hat-trick to keep Sunderland in relegation trouble .
  Connor Wickham scored a late consolation for the home side, who remain just three points clear of safety .