Premier League round-up:Adel Taarabt, the man Harry Redknapp once described as a "fruitcake", lived up to his bad-boy reputation by scoring the winner and then getting sent off as QPR inflicted yet more misery on sorry Tottenham with a 1-0 win at Loftus Road.
Taarabt, who left Spurs to join QPR two years ago, came back to haunt his former boss by curling home a wonderful first-half free-kick to boost QPR’s survival hopes and put a severe dent in Tottenham’s Champions League hopes.
The Moroccan lived up to his firebrand billing in the second half when he received a second booking for kicking the ball away.
Taarabt’s actions will be forgotten by QPR boss Mark Hughes, though, as the forward’s goal means his team are three points clear of the drop zone.
QPR thoroughly deserved their fourth successive home victory as they had more spirit, creativity and energy than a desperately lacklustre Spurs, who are now fifth in the Premier League table and some three points behind Newcastle with only four games of the campaign left.
Newcastle'shopes rose as they claimed a convincing 3-0 victory over Stokethanks to two goals from Yohan Cabaye.
Cabaye fired Newcastle in front after 14 minutes, knocking home the rebound after a Papiss Cisse header had come back off the crossbar.
The Frenchman then turned provider four minutes later when he produced a slide-rule pass to put Cisse in on goal, and he made no mistake with a left-foot finish.
Newcastle’s third arrived after 57 minutes with Cabaye again at the heart of things, firing Demba Ba’s assist into the bottom-right corner.
At the other end of the table, Blackburn'shopes of escaping the bottom three were given a welcome boost with a 2-0 win over Norwichat Ewood Park.
Ayegbeni Yakubu had hit the post for the home side after 38 minutes, but they were in front three minutes later with Morten Gamst Pedersen whipping in a cross for Mauro Formica to side-foot home at the far post.
Junior Hoilett added another four minutes into the second half, curling a shot into the top corner.
The win was not enough to lift Blackburnout of the drop zone, but they climbed above Bolton who were held to a 1-1 draw by Swansea.
The Swans took just six minutes to break the deadlock through Scott Sinclair, who unleashed a superb curling shot into the top corner. But Bolton were level after 14 minutes when Chris Eagles provided a left-footed finish to Martin Petrov’s cross.
Wigan'ssurvival hopes suffered a setback with a 2-1 defeat against Fulhamat Craven Cottage.
The Latics were looking to claim their fifth win in six Premier League matches - a run which had carried them away from the relegation zone - and Emerson Boyce smashed home from the edge of the area to give them a 58th-minute lead.
But Fulham were level a minute later with Pavel Pogrebnyak driving home a low shot, and a header from Philippe Senderos a minute from time snatched the points for the Cottagers.
Aston Villaand Sunderlandhad to settle for a goalless draw at Villa Park. Nicklas Bendtner had the ball in the net for Sunderland after 75 minutes but was deemed to be in an offside position, although replays suggested otherwise.
Craig Gardner was then sent off for the Black Cats in the final minute but it was too late for Villa to take advantage.
