Kevin Keegan's Manchester City finally rid themselves of the blues as they put an end to their 14-match losing run.
City had taken only six points out of a possible 42 in that time, but their revival at the Reebok looks to have banished some of the relegation fears that were beginning to haunt the side.
They were helped by Sam Allardyce's decision to introduce something of a new look to his side's defence with his eye on resting some of his regulars for next week's Carling Cup final against Middlesbrough.
For a time it looked good as Kevin Nolan fired the home side into an early lead, but then City tore down the home side's weakened defence as Robbie Fowler equalised and then fired them into the lead.
Wanderers' misery was compounded as Simon Charlton put the ball into his own net for City's third, while City's lead was never seriously threatened again.
Wanderers started the game by making three changes from the side that drew at Leicester in the last Premiership game.
They rested defenders Bruno N'Gotty and Nicky Hunt, while Jay-Jay Okocha was also on the bench after spending the last month on African Cup of Nations duty with Nigeria.
That meant debuts for two players signed during the transfer window.
Central defender Steve Howey lined up to face his old club following his move from Leicester while John Otsemobor, on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season, took over the right-back spot.
City boss Keegan's problems were caused by suspension and injury.
Nicolas Anelka, Joey Barton and Paul Bosvelt were all victims of bans while Daniel van Buyten was ruled out through injury, which meant recalls for Antoine Sibierski, Jonathan Macken and Trevor Sinclair, with David James back in goal after being cup-tied.
He was quickly brought into action and had to make a superb save to prevent Wanderers taking a seventh minute lead as he palmed away a close-range shot by Youri Djorkaeff.
The England keeper was City's hero again in the 20th minute after the City defence had managed to block Ivan Campo's shot. The ball, however, rebounded straight to Charlton, who blasted at goal only for James to push the shot up onto the bar.
Two minutes later the keeper had no chance when Wanderers took a 22nd minute lead, Nolan moving on to Djorkaeff's free-kick to hit his tenth goal of the season.
The goal, however, roused City from their early lethargy and within nine minutes they had not only clawed back the goal, but gone in front.
On both occasions, Wanderers' defensive partnership of Howey and Charlton were exploited by Fowler.
First, he was given acres of room in the six-yard box to head in Michael Tarnat's corner, then four minutes later, Howey was left stranded as Fowler found space to fire past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
It very nearly became three, but this time the Finnish keeper did well to spread himself and block Sinclair's shot from the edge of the six-yard box.
City did not have to wait long to claim their third goal, and it came courtesy of Wanderers central defender Charlton, who put Steve McManaman's cross past his own keeper in the 50th minute.
And it could have been four two minutes later, as Sibierski powered a header at the Bolton goal only for the ball to hit his own man Macken on the line and rebound to safety.
Wanderers' immediate response was a 55th minute double substitution with Okocha replacing a displeased looking Djorkaeff and on-loan Atletico Madrid striker Javi Moreno for Per Frandsen.
There was no immediate improvement in Wanderers' fortunes, although Moreno did well to give Henrik Pedersen an opening, but the Dane shot straight at James.
Wanderers continued to frustrate as they failed to be any real threat and with City happy to protect their lead the game was left to fizzle out to a dreary conclusion.
City manager Kevin Keegan praised his two-goal striker Robbie Fowler: "Robbie has worked harder than I have ever known in the last two months. He is nearly back to where he should be.
"He is still world-class in my book. You don't lose being a good finisher and goals give him confidence." Keegan also remarked on the performance of his England keeper David James, after his world-class stop from Youri Djorkaeff: "It was a marvellous stop and we then set about trying to win the game.
"It was disappointing to concede a goal but other than that we defended well. We showed tremendous character when the ball was coming in.
"We thoroughly deserved to win. We played some good football and could have scored more goals.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce rested some of his key players ahead of the Carling Cup and commented: "I hope the players' minds were on Cardiff, but I will make sure they don't forget this game in a hurry," he said.
"I felt we had enough opportunities to win the game in the first 20 minutes, but we were guilty of poor finishing.
"You look at City's three goals - one was a free header, one was from a long hopeful clearance and one was an own goal and we have paid the price." Man of the Match: Robbie Fowler - His two well taken first-half goals restored City's confidence and put them on their way to a crucial victory.