Brilliant Ben Arfa ignites Newcastle's top four surge

Flying: Hatem Ben Arfa celebrates his wonderful opener

It is often said that a team needs a little bit of extra quality to win games when they aren't playing well. Newcastle United certainly possess this, in the form of the magnificent Hatem Ben Arfa.

For just over 70 minutes Newcastle did not play well against a plucky and organised Bolton Wanderers side, who came to St James' Park sniffing an upset as the Magpies delivered a display lacking in both energy and creativity.

However, 73 minutes into the contest Alan Pardew's side found their spark, as the in-form Frenchman delivered a truly magical goal in what was one of the great moments of the campaign.  

Papiss Cisse then wrapped up the three points as he tapped in Shola Ameobi's well placed cross, but it was Ben Arfa's contender for goal of the season that will grab the headlines.

The victory takes Newcastle up to 5th in the Premier League table, level on points with 4th placed Tottenham Hotspur - who fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Norwich City - and two points clear of 6th placed Chelsea after their 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Newcastle made just one change from the side that won 2-0 at Swansea on Good Friday, Captain Fabricio Coloccini returning from a hamstring injury, forcing James Perch to move into the midfield because of an injury to Cheick Tiote. 

Perhaps tired from their travails in South Wales, the home side produced a laborious first half performance. Wanderers' Hungarian keeper Adam Bogdan was rarely tested, although he did almost gift Newcastle the lead when he punched Ben Arfa's inswinging free-kick in the direction of his own goal, only to see the ball flash wide of the post.

Shane Ferguson replaced James Perch at half time with Jonas Gutierrez taking up a more central position as Pardew searched for a way to break down a typically rugged Bolton outfit.

The change made little difference and in fact it was the visitors who appeared the more likely to net the opener, Mark Davies and Chris Eagles both brought fine close range saves from Krul before Petrov flashed an inviting ball across the face of goal but Darren Pratley failed to find the final touch. 

Ben Arfa slots past Bogdan to cap a superb solo run

Newcastle survived the spell of pressure and that set the stage for Ben Arfa to steal the plaudits with a spectacular solo goal. Collecting the ball midway inside his own half from Yohan Cabaye, the Clairefontaine academy graduate turned past Sam Ricketts and proceeded to power into the Bolton half, riding the challenge of Mark Davies before skipping past the visitors back line and into the box to slide a cool finish past Bogdan into the bottom corner.

St James' Park erupted in relief and utter amazement at what they had just witnessed. Ben Arfa had pulled off a similar feat - and scored arguably a better goal - earlier in the season in the FA Cup against Blackburn Rovers but this one, on a grander stage with European permutations riding on the game, was unquestionably more important.

From then on there was no way back for Owen Coyle's men, and the Magpies made sure of the points ten minutes later when substitute Shola Ameobi broke free down the right before bending a superb ball into the area for the free scoring Cisse to tap home and make it ten goals in nine games for the Senegalese international. 

There was perhaps a suspicion of offside about Newcastle's second but Pardew and his troops will care not. Ben Arfa's goal was worthy of winning any game and the Geordies are now in the thick of the race for the final two Champions League places. 

Injuries have mounted in recent weeks and Newcastle will be thankful for the extra rest that Chelsea's involvement in next weekend's FA Cup Semi Finals has allowed them. Pardew's side have momentum and although both management and playing staff will play down their Champions League chances, few would begrudge them a place at European football's top table after a wonderful winning run.