Andrew Johnson, Neil Shipperley and Dougie Freedman scored to send Norwich into the Premiership tonight whilst keeping Crystal Palace's play-off bid firmly on course.

Palace overpowered Sunderland at Selhurst Park after the visitors had goalkeeper Mart Poom sent off for a professional foul.

Johnson opened the scoring with his 23rd goal of the season from the penalty spot after being brought down by Poom. Second-half strikes from Shipperley and substitute Freedman then took Palace up to seventh in the table.

The defeat meant third-placed Sunderland could no longer overhaul First Division leaders Norwich, who will now return to the top flight after a nine-year absence.

Shipperley had the first real chance of the match, sending a free header from Danny Butterfield's cross wastefully wide from 12 yards out inside three minutes.

Wayne Routledge was then allowed time and space to run at the visiting defenders and unleash a 20-yard shot which Poom did well to tip wide at full stretch.

The Palace pressure told in the 20th minute when Shipperley released Johnson and Poom brought him down just inside the area, earning a straight red card from referee Phil Dowd.

But Johnson had to wait four minutes before substitute Sunderland keeper Thomas Myhre, who spent three months on loan at Palace earlier this season, was ready to come on.

Tommy Smith was the man to make way, and Myhre's first touch was to pick the ball out of his own net as Johnson kept his cool to beat him straight down the middle.

The Black Cats suddenly had a mountain to climb, and Julian Gray almost doubled the home side's lead with a neat turn and shot which went wide of the far post.

Darren Byfield registered Sunderland's first shot on target after 35 minutes, but his long-range effort lacked power and was comfortably gathered by Nico Vaesen.

Myhre then got a vital touch on another Routledge effort from distance, and Johnson missed a free header as Palace continued to stretch their visitors.

The frustration was beginning to show for Sunderland, who had Jason McAteer and then Gary Breen booked for blatant fouls.

But Eagles winger Gray was lucky to escape punishment after flailing his arms wildly at Breen when the defender pulled him back.

Johnson fluffed his lines when played clean through by Routledge, but it was his run and cross after a mistake by Julio Arca which provided Shipperley with the second on 63 minutes.

Freedman then made sure of victory within a minute of coming off the bench, giving Myhre no chance from the angle 10 minutes from time.

Teams

Crystal Palace Vaesen, Butterfield, Popovic, Leigertwood, Granville, Routledge (Black 81), Riihilahti (Derry 79), Hughes, Gray, Shipperley (Freedman 76), Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Symons, Berthelin.

Goals: Johnson 24 pen, Shipperley 63, Freedman 80.

Sunderland Poom, Williams, Breen, Babb, Arca, Piper (Oster 60), Whitley, McAteer, Tommy Smith (Myhre 22), Byfield (Stewart 60), Kyle.

Subs Not Used: Thornton, Bjorklund.

Sent Off: Poom (20).

Booked: McAteer, Breen, Babb.

Att: 18,291

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).