Wimbledon inflicted high-flying Sunderland's second defeat in three games on a miserable afternoon for Peter Reid's men at Selhurst Park.

The Dons were well worth their half-time lead earned through Carl Cort's 30th-minute header, the England Under-21 international's 13th goal of the season.

But the visitors were a different side in the second half and Reid will feel aggrieved his side left for the long journey home without at least a point.

Sunderland had two efforts ruled out for offside, a good looking claim for a penalty turned down and saw Kevin Phillips hit the bar from 25 yards in the 88th minute.

The Premiership's top scorer had also missed a golden chance in first half injury-time while strike partner Niall Quinn also should have done better with a free header in stoppage time.

And Reid may well have felt unhappy with the build-up to the only goal of the game with a suspicion of a foul by Ben Thatcher on Nicky Summerbee as he won the ball in midfield.

The defeat kept alive Sunderland's record of never having won at Selhurst Park in seven visits and gave the Dons a welcome cushion in the bottom half of the table.

Sunderland made two changes to the side that were held at home by Manchester United last week, the fit-again Phillips back after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury. He replaced Alex Rae, and Andy Marriott came in for 'flu victim Thomas Sorensen in goal.

And it was Marriott who was by far the busiest of the goalkeepers in the early stages as Wimbledon piled on the pressure.

The impressive Martin Andresen floated in a dangerous free-kick to the far post where Carl Cort met it with a powerful header but Marriott flung himself to his left to make an excellent save.

The Dons almost took the lead with the best move of the match, Ben Thatcher leading the break from defence before feeding Andresen again on the left.

This time the Norwegian's first-time cross found Euell 10 yards out but Gavin McCann and Marriott combined to keep his goalbound effort out.

It took until 23 minutes for the visitors to fashion a noteworthy chance as Chris Willmott enjoyed a fairly easy introduction to the top flight on his Premiership debut.

Neil Sullivan had to stretch to tip over Summerbee's cross with Niall Quinn free just behind him at the far post and from the resulting corner Phillips' clever flick from Summerbee's cross drifted narrowly over.

A comical mix-up between Makin and Bould then let in Marcus Gayle but he dragged his shot wide before the home side eventually took the lead on the half hour.

Thatcher won a 50-50 challenge with Summerbee on the left before the ball found Andresen once more on the left to cross to the far post for Cort to head home his seventh league goal of the season.

Makin and Gayle were then booked in quick succession before Summerbee was substituted on 35 minutes, apparently still feeling the effects of the challenge from Thatcher in the lead up to the goal.

Eventually Sunderland came to life and began to threaten the home goal, Makin's deflected shot running to Phillips in the box but his left-foot shot was dragged wide and Quinn was unable to get a touch on the back post.

And the visitors should really have levelled the scores just before the break as the rain came down even heavier to make a bad pitch even worse.

Quinn and Phillips played a delightful one-two on the edge of the area but with only Sullivan to beat Phillips fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Roared on by their travelling fans braving the awful weather, and no doubt spurred on by a half-time roasting from manager Peter Reid, Sunderland looked a much better side in the second half as they sought an equaliser.

Stefan Schwarz brought a good low save from Sullivan with a left foot drive after Phillips' break on 54 minutes and a minute later Quinn went agonisingly close, his header from Schwarz's free-kick landing on the top of the net with Sullivan nowhere.

The Scottish international was enduring a considerably tougher second 45 minutes and almost gifted Sunderland an equaliser on 58 minutes as he failed to collect Makin's cross but Kilbane's first time volley from 20 yards flew just over.

The visitors were not having it all their own way however, Badir testing Marriott from long range and Bould having to make a superb interception as Hermann Hreidarsson collected Cort's return pass after a surging 60-yard run.

Phillips then rattled the stanchion at the back of the goal with a storming 25-yard drive before Sunderland had the ball in the back of the net only for Darren Williams - on for the injured Summerbee - to see his effort ruled out for offside.

Reid brought on John Oster for Makin after 72 minutes as Sunderland continued to press forward and the Dons had Sullivan to thank for keeping them level.

Sunderland fans and players thought they should have had a penalty 10 minutes from time as Schwarz went down in the area but referee Graham Poll waved away the protests.

And their afternoon was summed up at the death as Phillips hit the bar with a brilliant drive from 25 yards and Quinn steered a free header straight at Sullivan with the last effort of the game.

Teams:

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Thatcher, Andersen, Hreidarsson, Badir (Ardley 66), Willmott, Andresen (Francis 87), Euell, Cort, Gayle.

Subs Not Used: Leaburn, Davis, Gray.

Booked: Gayle, Badir, Hreidarsson, Andersen.

Goals: Cort 30.

Sunderland: Marriott, Makin (Oster 73), Bould, Kilbane, Butler, Gray, Summerbee (Williams 35), Schwarz, McCann, Quinn, Phillips.

Subs Not Used: Thirlwell, Roy, Reddy.

Booked: Makin, Quinn, McCann.

Att: 17,621

Ref: G Poll (Tring).