Liverpool and Tottenham both missed out on the chance to take over at the top of the Barclaycard Premiership after they blew two-goal leads - while Bolton shocked Manchester United for the second season running at Old Trafford.
Glenn Hoddle took his side to Loftus Road tonight knowing a win over Fulham would see them leapfrog arch-rivals Arsenal.
And all looked to be going to plan as Dean Richards (36) and Teddy Sheringham (45) fired Spurs into a comfortable lead at half-time.
But the home side came out fighting after the break and Japan's Junichi Inamoto got them back into the game when he drilled the ball in from 25 yards with 22 minutes to go.
Fulham were back on level terms six minutes from time through Steed Malbranque's controversial penalty and got reward for all their pressure when Sylvain Legwinski grabbed a winner in stoppage time.
Liverpool could have taken advantage of Spurs' misfortune, but they too were hit by a late rally as Birmingham battled to a point an Anfield.
Danny Murphy fired in a blistering free-kick on 25 minutes and Steven Gerrard made it 2-0 four minutes after the restart when he had been put in by El Hadji Diouf.
Clinton Morrison (51) got Steve Bruce's men back into the match, and the Blues were rewarded for their never-say-die attitude when the Republic of Ireland striker powered in an injury-time header which flew into the top corner.
Kevin Nolan was the hero again as Bolton recorded a second stunning Old Trafford upset on the trot.
Nolan was on target when Bolton beat Manchester United 12 months ago and repeated the feat tonight 12 minutes from time, when he lashed past Fabien Barthez to send Sir Alex Ferguson's men spinning to their first defeat of the season.
Leeds are third after a smash-and-grab raid saw them come away from Newcastle with a 2-0 win, courtesy of goals from Mark Viduka (5) and a late strike three minutes from time by England striker Alan Smith.
Gianfranco Zola hit a brace as Chelsea came away from Blackburn with three points to maintain their unbeaten run after a five-goal thriller at Ewood Park.
England new-boy David Dunn put Rovers ahead from the penalty spot after 18 minutes and although the Blues were soon level through Jesper Gronkjaer (38), David Thompson grabbed his first goal for Rovers to put them back in front just before half-time.
But Zola equalised with a far-post header on 52 minutes before sealing the win with an exquisite curling effort 10 minutes from time.
Teenager Stefan Moore lifted the pressure from under-fire boss Graham Taylor as his debut wonder-goal helped Aston Villa beat Charlton 2-0.
Ecuador international Ulises De la Cruz made the breakthrough after 70 minutes when he weaved his way into the box before stabbing the ball past Dean Kiely.
But it was Moore's strike which will grab the headlines, the teenager picking up the ball on the edge of the box, slipping it between two defenders before smashing it into the back of the net.
Substitute Marian Pahars netted a dubious second-half penalty at the St Mary's Stadium to beat Everton and give Southampton their first win of the season.
The Latvian went down under the challenge of David Weir in the box, with referee Steve Bennett awarding a penalty. Weir was cautioned for his protestations, but Pahars kept his cool to slot home on 73 minutes.
Jason Roberts made the first repayment on his new four-year deal by giving West Brom three crucial points at basement-boys West Ham.
Roberts put the Baggies ahead on 28 minutes, latching on to a through ball before calmly scoring past the advancing David James, which proved enough to give Gary Megson's team a second successive win.
PA