Kevin Davies's 70th minute goal saw Bolton wrap up the points after they had taken the lead earlier in the second half through El-Hadji Diouf only for Newcastle to hit back minutes later thanks to Darren Ambrose's wonder-strike.

The result left Bolton in fourth, where they started the weekend, on 21 points. Newcastle, who would have moved up into fourth had they won, were left five points back in eighth spot.

In the early stages both teams created openings with Newcastle's veteran striker Alan Shearer picking out Stephen Carr only for the defender's cut-back to be blocked by Greek Euro 2004 hero Stelios Giannakopoulos.

Diouf then delivered a cross from the right that was cleared by Robbie Elliott.

But the best chance of the first half fell to Davies in the 23rd minute when Diouf split the Newcastle defence.

Former Blackburn and Southampton striker Davies drew Newcastle keeper Shay Given out of his goal only to pull his shot wide.

After the break the match sparked into life with two goals in the space of four second-half minutes.

From a long throw, Bolton's Radhi Jaidi outjumped Given and Diouf, on loan from Liverpool, steered the ball home from barely a yard out for his first goal in 18 months which ironically came for Liverpool against his new team.

The Senegalese forward then promptly collected a yellow card after referee Graham Poll booked him for removing his shirt.

Newcastle then hit back in spectacular fashion in the 55th minute. Ambrose won the ball in the midfield and, as the Bolton defence backed off, he let fly with a 25-yard strike that flew past Jussi Jaaskelainen's left hand and into the top corner.

Bolton though regained the lead 20 minutes from time when Newcastle failed to deal with a free-kick launched into their box.

Davies won the initial header before Diouf nodded on. And with Given slow off his line and going at the ball with feet rather than hands, Davies beat the Republic of Ireland international to the loose ball and slid in to ease the ball home.