Newcastle make most of slips from their rivals

And Chelsea’s draw at Fulham later in the day provided a further boost for the North-East club.

Hatem Ben Arfa produced a moment of magic with a run from inside his own half to open the scoring against struggling Bolton in the 73rd minute.

Papiss Cisse scored his eighth goal in five games – and 10th in nine appearances – seven minutes from time.

It lifted the Magpies up to 59 points, behind Spurs only on goal difference, after Harry Redknapp’s side were beaten.

Norwich took the lead at White Hart Lane through former Huddersfield Town winger Anthony Pilkington’s 13th-minute goal but the hosts equalised in controversial circumstances.

Canaries manager Paul Lambert was furious when Ledley King appeared to foul Grant Holt in the penalty area but play continued and Spurs counter-attacked with Jermain Defoe lifting a shot over goalkeeper John Ruddy.

Elliott Bennett’s first goal for Norwich in the 66th minute secured victory for the visitors.

Clint Dempsey delivered a blow to Chelsea’s hopes of a top-four finish after they looked set to benefit from a controversial penalty at Fulham.

Dempsey’s header glanced in off Gary Cahill eight minutes from time to deny the Cottagers’ arch-rivals a win that would have taken them level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham. Frank Lampard’s 150th Premier League goal – making him the first midfielder to reach the milestone – had given Chelsea the lead from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.

Everton warmed up for their FA Cup semi-final derby against Liverpool with a resounding 4-0 win at home to Sunderland.

Six minutes into the second half Magaye Gueye scored his first goal for the club.

Steven Pienaar curled home the second in the 75th minute then set up Osman to add the third with a shot in off the post 90 seconds later.

Victor Anichebe made it 4-0 and increased seventh-placed Everton’s lead over Liverpool to four points.

Stoke defender Robert Huth scored for the second time in 48 hours to earn his side a point at Aston Villa. He had netted his side’s first goal when they came from behind to defeat Wolves.

The former Chelsea player’s 71st-minute header cancelled out a stunning strike from Villa striker Andreas Weimann which had broken the deadlock.