Sammy Ameobi scored the goal that lifted Bolton out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone as they beat promotion-chasing Bristol City 1-0 at the Macron Stadium.
Seventeen places separated the two sides before the game but in a tight clash, Ameobi grabbed the decisive goal with 19 minutes remaining.
Bristol City had a penalty appeal turned down in the first half when Bobby Reid collided into goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, while they came closest to scoring through Famara Diedhiou's point-blank header shortly after the break.
Victory lifts Bolton out of the relegation zone to 19th, while Bristol City remain in fifth.
Bolton are odds-on at 1/2 with Sky Bet to stay up.
Bristol City can be backed at 4/1 for promotion.
Post-match reaction
Bolton's Sammy Ameobi says victory against promotion-chasing Bristol City proves there is life after Gary Madine.
The forward said: "Gary is a top-quality player, but we have to get on without him.
"I said from the off there is enough quality in the squad to stay up."
Bolton boss Phil Parkinson admitted it had been a tough week following the sale of Madine.
He said: "We showed great resilience. People have written us off all season.
"We have sold our top scorer and people are writing us off again, so we have to prove them wrong again.
"It felt tonight before the game that people were patting us on the back and saying we were unlucky.
"I said I expected us not to draw, but win the game.
"Everybody will talk about Sammy who will get the headlines, but it was a team effort and the players stuck to our game plan and restricted a very good team to few chances."
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson admitted his side didn't deserve to take anything from the game.
He said: "Give credit to Bolton who deserved to win. Dare I say they wanted it more than us, and that was disappointing.
"We didn't start with enough tempo and were flicky, posing, pulled out of a few challenges and didn't do the basics which made them feel encouraged to be in the game.
"It is very disappointing. We can accept being beaten, but it was the manner.
"We have to go back to the drawing board and respect Bolton who are fighting for their lives. We didn't play winning football."
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