Ashley Young's 11th-minute winner settled a drab contest and moved Martin O'Neill's side to within four points of fourth-placed Tottenham before Manchester City's late kick-off at Burnley.
After their 7-1 mauling at Chelsea the week before, Villa were desperate to get back to winning ways against struggling Bolton.
And it was no surprise to see Young as their match-winner - the Villa winger has now scored in each of his last four games against the Trotters.
Tamir Cohen twice went close to opening the scoring for Bolton before Young put the visitors in front with a superb curling effort.
Jack Wilshere then volleyed just wide while Young nearly replicated his goal but this time his shot curled just past the upright minutes before half-time.
Stewart Downing headed over from Young's corner before Owen Coyle introduced Ivan Klasnic for the ineffectual Johan Elmander just before the hour mark.
The Croatian substitute was immediately in the action as he flashed a header just wide from Sam Ricketts' cross.
Klasnic went close again after bursting into the area but Brad Friedel raced from his line to thwart the striker.
Substitute Emile Heskey was denied by a superb stop from Jussi Jaaskelainen before Gabriel Agbonlahor missed a great chance to finish the contest.
The striker raced on to Steve Sidwell's pass after he controversially contested a drop ball but shot wide with only Jaaskelainen to beat.
Wanderers players were furious and the goalkeeper raced 40 yards from his line to remonstrate with referee Mike Jones.
The incident seem to spark Bolton into life and Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor both had chances to salvage a point.
Villa should have been awarded a penalty when Ricketts took out Young inside the area before tempers flared at the final whistle as Wilshere's clash with Gabriel Agbonlahor sparked a mass brawl.