A new Manchester City star was born in winger Adam Johnson as the Blues nudged up towards the top four with a 2-0 victory over Bolton.
Strike duo Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor might have scored the goals that leave City trailing fourth-placed Liverpool on goal difference, but there was no doubt Johnson was the real star.
Signed for eight million pounds from Middlesbrough on deadline day, the 22-year-old left to a standing ovation six minutes from time after providing most of the thrills on a chilly evening.
It was Johnson who won the penalty that Tevez converted to put City ahead. And although fellow new-boy Patrick Vieira set up Adebayor to seal victory, it was Johnson who kept Bolton on the back foot and ensured there was no second away point of the season for Owen Coyle, whose only other one came on this ground in November when he was still at Burnley.
It is a run that must end quickly given Bolton could easily find itself in the drop zone after Wednesday night's games, and facing Coyle with a massive job to prove it was not a mistake to bring him in to replace Gary Megson.
Portsmouth striker Aruna Dindane struck deep into stoppage time to earn his side a valuable point against Sunderland in its Premier League survival bid.
Darren Bent had given the visitors the lead from a penalty in the 12th minute at Fratton Park, with Ricardo Rocha sent off in the build-up to the opener.
With Avram Grant sent to the stands, it looked like there was no way back for Pompey, but Sunderland had Lee Cattermole and David Meyler dismissed and then Dindane struck at the death.
Grant proved that whatever happens this season, he and his players are going down with a fight. After a first half where he had a player sent off and a penalty appeal turned down, Grant snapped and went eyeball to eyeball with Kevin Friend after marching onto the pitch to confront the referee.
He let out all of his frustrations on Friend after another day of chaos in Pompey's troubled season - it kicked off knowing no agreement had been made with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs over halting a winding-up petition.
Fulham moved into ninth place in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 win over Burnley at Craven Cottage.
First-half goals from Danny Murphy and David Elm put the home side in control and Bobby Zamora wrapped up all three points with a second-half free-kick.
Burnley, which has yet to win away this season, remains close to the relegation zone.
And Tuncay Sanli's second-half header denied Wigan a precious victory as Stoke made off with a point at the DW Stadium.
The Latics took an early lead when Paul Scharner connected with Charles N'Zogbia's wonderfully-flighted free-kick in the 14th minute.
But Tuncay rose to head home Matthew Etherington's cross 16 minutes from time to ensure it finished honours even.
Although other results meant the draw moved Wigan up two places to 14th in the table, Roberto Martinez's side was the superior one for long spells and now has only one win in its past 10 Premier League games.
Stoke, meanwhile, extended its unbeaten run since the turn of the year to five league games.