A superb first-half strike from Marcos Alonso was enough to give Bolton a 1-0 Championship victory over Brighton at the Reebok Stadium.
The result sees Albion fall out of the npower Championship's top six, while Wanderers' late-season surge appears increasingly well timed as they made it eight matches without defeat.
Albion made most of the early running before former Real Madrid youngster Alonso fired a scorching long-range hit in the 20th minute.
All Brighton had to show for a late barrage was Ashley Barnes' red card for dissent deep into stoppage time.
It was against the run of play when the hosts burst up the other end to take a 20th-minute lead. There appeared to be little on as Alonso strode towards the left-hand corner of the area, but he unleashed a superb low drive across Thomasz Kuszczak and into the far corner.
Alonso might have added a second in the 32nd minute, stooping to head wide from Jay Spearing's right-wing corner.
Brighton once again displayed the greater industry in the second-half's opening moments and David Lopez sweetly caught a 20-yard volley that flew narrowly over.
Andrew Crofts then blazed high and wide at the back post from Leonardo Ulloa's right-wing cross after Bolton centre-back Zat Knight got a crucial glancing touch.
Wanderers responded and a measured Alonso pass gave David Ngog room to draw a fine stop from Kuszczak in the 55th minute.
A frantic melee ensued, with strangled shouts for handball coming as Matthew Upson got in the way of Lee Chung-Yong's shot, before a collection of Brighton bodies flung themselves towards Spearing's follow-up at the expense of a corner.
As the game entered its final quarter, Upson headed over from a corner and Vicente warmed Andy Lonergan's palms from the edge of the box. Sub Andrea Orlandi then cut in from the left to flash a shot past the far post with Lonergan beaten.
Brighton's frantic late push proved fruitless and Barnes' red card compounded their woes.
The result sees Albion fall out of the npower Championship's top six, while Wanderers' late-season surge appears increasingly well timed as they made it eight matches without defeat.
Albion made most of the early running before former Real Madrid youngster Alonso fired a scorching long-range hit in the 20th minute.
All Brighton had to show for a late barrage was Ashley Barnes' red card for dissent deep into stoppage time.
It was against the run of play when the hosts burst up the other end to take a 20th-minute lead. There appeared to be little on as Alonso strode towards the left-hand corner of the area, but he unleashed a superb low drive across Thomasz Kuszczak and into the far corner.
Alonso might have added a second in the 32nd minute, stooping to head wide from Jay Spearing's right-wing corner.
Brighton once again displayed the greater industry in the second-half's opening moments and David Lopez sweetly caught a 20-yard volley that flew narrowly over.
Andrew Crofts then blazed high and wide at the back post from Leonardo Ulloa's right-wing cross after Bolton centre-back Zat Knight got a crucial glancing touch.
Wanderers responded and a measured Alonso pass gave David Ngog room to draw a fine stop from Kuszczak in the 55th minute.
A frantic melee ensued, with strangled shouts for handball coming as Matthew Upson got in the way of Lee Chung-Yong's shot, before a collection of Brighton bodies flung themselves towards Spearing's follow-up at the expense of a corner.
As the game entered its final quarter, Upson headed over from a corner and Vicente warmed Andy Lonergan's palms from the edge of the box. Sub Andrea Orlandi then cut in from the left to flash a shot past the far post with Lonergan beaten.
Brighton's frantic late push proved fruitless and Barnes' red card compounded their woes.
