It was Mancini Time at Eastlands again as Manchester City's Gareth Barry struck a 92nd minute winner for a pivotal 1-0 win against basement side Reading.
In the day's earlier kick-off Arsenal won by the same scoreline at Wigan thanks to a Mikel Arteta penalty in a game as drab as the weather but Tottenham could only register a scoreless draw with Stoke.
Norwich's unbeaten run finally ended as West Brom came from behind to beat the Canaries 2-1, which was also the same score at Upton Park with Everton recovering to move up to fourth. Carlton Cole and Darron Gibson were both nonsensically sent off by referee Anthony Taylor.
Sunderland recorded just their second away win of the season at Southampton by one goal to nil, just like their fellow north-easterners Newcastle did at home to QPR.