Newcastle United FC are up to fifth in the Premier League after they beat Blackburn Rovers FC 2-0 and Arsenal FC were held 0-0 at Bolton Wanderers FC.

Newcastle are now just three points adrift of Chelsea FC and a UEFA Champions League qualifying berth following Scott Dann's 12th-minute own goal and Gabriel Obertan's added-time second at Ewood Park. David Dunn spurned a first-half penalty for Blackburn. Alan Pardew's team are a point clear of Liverpool FC and two ahead of Arsenal, without a league victory in four following that Bolton stalemate.

Sunderland AFC, meanwhile, have climbed to eighth after their Martin O'Neill-inspired resurgence continued with a 3-0 home win against Norwich City FC. Fraizer Campbell's exquisite shot, Stéphane Sessegnon's delightfully-worked header and Daniel Ayala's own goal earned O'Neill's team a sixth victory in nine league games since he succeeded Steve Bruce as manager.

Elsewhere, Djibril Cissé scored 12 minutes into his Queens Park Rangers FC debut but could not prevent his team from surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa FC, while Fulham FC versus West Bromwich Albion FC finished 1-1 at Craven Cottage.