Bolton scored two goals within the first three minutes to deservedly beat Portsmouth 2-1 and claim a crucial three points.
The crowd at the Reebok did not know what hit it as Matt Taylor scored within the first minute with a right-footed effort after Kevin Davies had flicked on.
Johan Elmander then had a close-range shot blocked before Ricardo Gardner netted a second after being found unmarked by a Taylor header.
Portsmouth were in danger of being swamped but came back into the game and scored with their first attack in the 20th minute.
Niko Kranjcar put in an exquisite cross from the left which Peter Crouch had to simply nod home at the back post.
Gretar Steinsson almost headed home in first-half injury-time but David James made a fantastic point-blank save to push onto the post.
In the second period Bolton pressed for a third but Pompey held firm, with Jermain Defoe missing a half chance in injury-time.
Taylor made sure the hand of friendship over Christmas did not extend to his old mates at Portsmouth - at least on the field.
The Bolton midfielder opened the scoring after just 49 seconds with a clever finish. He clipped the ball over Hermann Hreidarsson following Davies' flick-on with Andy O'Brien also involved in the move.
Elmander came close before Bolton extended their lead with another lightning-quick move.
Jlloyd Samuel picked out Taylor and he found Gardner, who made no mistake from close range.
Gardner almost added a third in the 10th minute when he got on the end of a cross from Steinsson but smashed a shot wide.
Highlight:
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