Premier League review:Manchester United remain three points off the top after two stunning goals from Newcastle United and an awful defensive blunder by the visitors at St James's Park. Bolton claimed a priceless win after going behind to a goal from Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Alex Ferguson’s side began the evening needing a win to go level with Manchester City after the leaders beat Liverpool 3-0 last night, but wonderful strikes in either half from Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye were added to by a bizarre late own goal from Phil Jones as the champions suffered their third defeat of the season.
It means back-to-back defeats for United after their 3-2 home loss to Blackburn Rovers on New Year's Eve.
Ba's 33rd-minute opener came via route one with Tim Krul's long punt upfield from a free-kick flicked on by Shola Ameobi for Ba to superbly hook home from 16 yards.
And two minutes into the second half, Cabaye added a second with a wonderful 30-yard free-kick that bounced off the underside of the bar and over the line.
The two scorers had both missed decent chances to break the deadlock inside the opening 10 minutes of the match, while a deflected Dimitar Berbatov header clipped the outside of a post at the other end.
As the Red Devils attempted to reduce the two-goal deficit Wayne Rooney appeared to have scored on 59 but, from five yards, his effort was blocked on the line by former United youngster Danny Simpson.
Thereafter, the visitors huffed and puffed and even replaced Rooney but they could do little to prevent Newcastle from claiming four league points against them in the same season for the first time in 15 years.
And to round off a dreadful night for Ferguson's side, Phil Jones put through his own net after another long punt upfield by Krul hit him on the leg and wrongfooted Anders Lindegaard.
Boltoncame from behind to defeat Everton 2-1 and haul themselves off the foot of the Premier League thanks to a goal from Chelsea target Gary Cahill.
The Toffees took the lead in freak circumstances in the 63rd minute when Howard beat opposite number Adam Bogdan with a clearance from his own box which caught a gust of wind.
David Ngog made it 1-1 four minutes later with a smart finish, though, before Cahill - once again named as Trotters captain despite a fee for him being agreed with Chelsea - smashed in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.
