Wigan win to send Steve Kean's side bottom
In a weekend where many of the top sides were held, the focus was on the bottom of the table where Wigan picked up a vital win to leave Blackburn, who went down at Stoke, routed to the foot of the Premier League.
Rovers had the chance to make strides as they kicked off in the early game at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke.
They were behind inside half an hour though when Rory Delap arrived unmarked to head in Jermaine Pennant's cross.
Just after the restart they doubled the lead when Glenn Whelan drove home from the edge of the box following a lay-off from Jon Walters.
Peter Crouch capitalised on some hapless defending to make the result safe 20 minutes from time, slotting in Marc Wilson's long ball after it was left by two Rovers players.
Ruben Rochina grabbed a late consolation, rifling into the net from the edge of the box after a lay-off from Steven N'Zonzi, four minutes from time.
Wigan took full advantage of Blackburn's defeat, and some terrible Sunderland defending, to pick up a last-gasp 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light and move off the bottom of the table.
The returning Sebastian Larsson turned in Kieran Richardson's low cross to put Sunderland in front after just seven minutes.
Jordi Gomez levelled from the penalty spot right on half time, with his second goal in as many games, after Victor Moses had been felled.
The game looked destined for a draw until a combination of Franco Di Santo and James McArthur pressured Sunderland keeper Kieran Westwood deep into stoppage time.
Westwood hurried his clearance to Wes Brown, who was quickly dispossessed by McArthur and he rolled the ball to Di Santo to slide into an empty net.
Fulham also picked up a morale boosting result as they drew 1-1 at Arsenal in the day's late kick off.
The Cottagers took the lead too when Thomas Vermaelen slid in to halt John Arne-Riise's marauding run, but only succeeded in turning the ball past his own goalkeeper.
Vermaelen made amends though eight minutes from time when he rose highest to head in Theo Walcott's cross eight minutes from time.
League leaders Manchester City were also held to a 1-1 draw, despite taking the lead, at Anfield.
Vincent Kompany glanced in David Silva's corner after half an hour, but Liverpool were level within a minute.
Charlie Adam drove at the City defence before dragging his shot, but Joleon Lescott stuck out a leg and turned it past his own keeper.
City retained their five-point cushion at the top though, because Manchester United were also held, by in-form Newcastle, on Saturday.
Javier Hernandez inadvertently put United in front when Wayne Rooney's shot hit a defender before cannoning in off the Mexican striker.
No assist was awarded for this goal as the direction of Rooney's shot was significantly altered by the defensive intervention.
Demba Ba levelled with a controversial penalty, awarded when Rio Ferdinand was adjudged to have fouled Hatem Ben Arfa.
Tottenham continued their fine run, they have taken 28 points from the last 30 available, with a 3-1 win at West Brom.
They had to come from behind too as Youssouf Mulumbu headed in Steven Reid's cross to put the Baggies in front.
Emmanuel Adebayor levelled for Spurs from the penalty sport, at the second attempt, after Aaron Lennon had been fouled.
Goalkeeper parries do not remove assist and so Lennon gets the two FL points for being fouled in the box, despite Adebayor's initial effort being saved.
Jermain Defoe put Tottenham in front nine minutes from time, latching onto a fine touch Adebayor before driving at the defence and shooting low from the edge of the box.
Adebayor sealed the win in stoppage time when he slotted home after being found by Gareth Bale.
Chelsea bounced back from their recent poor form with a dominating first half display against Wolves.
John Terry headed the home side in front, from Juan Mata's cross, before Mata set-up Daniel Sturridge to tap in a second.
Mata added the third himself, to put Chelsea 3-0 up at half time, slotting home Ashley Cole's cross.
Bolton's misery continued as they were beaten 2-0 by Everton at the Reebok Stadium.
Marouane Fellaini opened the scoring, side-footing in Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's low cross just after half time.
Apostolos Vellios sealed the win, slotting in at the far post following a clever cut-back from Tim Cahill.
Norwich moved into the top half of the table courtesy of a 2-1 win over fellow promoted side Queens Park Rangers.
Russell Martin slammed the home side in front when a corner hit a defender and dropped kindly for him in the box.
Luke Young levelled for QPR, with his second goal in as many games, slotting home after Jamie Mackie's shot came back of the post.
Grant Holt came off the bench to turn in a cross from fellow substitute Wes Hoolahan to win the game 15 minutes from the end.
Finally, Aston Villa and Swansea played out a 0-0 draw at the Liberty Stadium.