Second-placed West Brom are now four points behind the Magpies after a turbulent finale to their 2-2 draw at Derby.
Paul Dickov (42) thought he had earned Derby the win before Simon Cox (82) equalised, Graham Dorrans and DJ Campbell then traded stoppage-time strikes, the latter netting after 95 minutes to secure the hosts a share of the spoils.
And that was what confuse the St James' Park tannoy guy! He announced West Brom had won 2-1.
Even better news .... Nottingham Forest hammered Leicester 5-1 in the early kick-off to move into third, leapfrogging their opponents in the process.
Robert Earnshaw claimed the match-ball after his hat-trick, while there were also goals for Paul Anderson, Dele Adebola and Leicester's Martyn Waghorn.
Chris Burke scored the only goal of the game to earn Cardiff three points against Preston and there was also a 1-0 win for Sheffield United at Plymouth, courtesy of James Harper's 88th-minute strike.
Barnsley scored twice in the final five minutes, through Bobby Hassell and Andy Gray's penalty, to snatch a 2-1 win against a Blackpool side who had taken the lead through Charlie Adam.
Doncaster came out 3-0 winners from their trip to Crystal Palace with Billy Sharp, Billy Paynter and Martin Woods all finding the net.
Lee Trundle netted after 84 and 90 minutes for Swansea against hosts Peterborough but Aaron McLean's injury-time response ensured a 2-2 draw.
Chris Whelpdale had kicked off the scoring 10 minutes into the second half.
Gordon Strachan finally tasted victory as Middlesbrough manager at the fifth attempt as his side put five past a shellshocked QPR at Loftus Road on Saturday.
Boro had a modest 1-0 lead at the break thanks to Dave Kitson but let loose after the break with a brace from Leroy Lita, one from Gary O'Neil and a fifth from Mark Yeats to win 5-1.
Rangers striker Patrick Agyemang had earlier made it 2-1 after 53 minutes.
Sheffield Wednesday went down 2-0 at home to Reading, following second-half goals from Grzegorz Rasiak and Kalifa Cisse.
Bristol City's match at home to Ipswich ended goalless.