Villa overcame a nervous final few minutes to claim a win over Wigan at the DW Stadium which helped them climb up to 13th place in the Premier League table.

The claret and blues strung together two wins in the league for the first time this season thanks to Gabby Agbonlahor’s 49th-minute header and an Ashley Young penalty in the 62nd minute.

Wigan pulled a goal back in the 80th minute with a long-range strike from James McCarthy, who saw his shot deflect off James Collins, but Villa’s defence stood firm and they hung on to claim the points.

Manager Gerard Houllier made three changes from the side which claimed a 1-0 win over Manchester City, as Jean Makoun and youngster Nathan Baker both made their Villa debuts.

Baker replaced the injured Ciaran Clark at left-back while Makoun came into the side in place of Stiliyan Petrov, who dropped to the bench along with Marc Albrighton who was replaced by Nigel Reo-Coker.

Wigan had the first chance of the game in the fifth minute when Emmerson Boyce whipped in a dangerous cross which was met by Franco Di Santo, but his header drifted just past the post.

Darren Bent found himself with a shooting opportunity moments later, when Young found him with a long free-kick which he had taken quickly.

The striker controlled perfectly and, despite being surrounded by three Wigan defenders, brought a smart save out of goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi with a low shot.

Villa really should have been ahead in the 11th minute when Downing was set free down the right flank but, instead of giving Bent an easier tap-in, he tried to beat Al Habsi at his near post.

Bent reacted quickly to try to scramble home the rebound, but the Wigan goalkeeper was equal to it and the ball was cleared to safety.

Barely a minute later, Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel was forced to make a save from Hugo Rodallega, whose curling effort from the edge of the box was parried by the American.

Rodallega then missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute after being put through by McCarthy, but could only blaze his shot over the bar with only Friedel to beat.

Baker then got a left off after tugging at the shirt of Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia inside the penalty area in the 35th minute. but the Frenchman stayed on his feet.

Villa started the second-half with a real spring in their step and took the lead four minutes after the break after forcing a corner.

Young’s delivery was met by Carlos Cuellar who directed a powerful header at goal which was parried by Al Habsi, but Agbonlahor was on hand to nod home from less than a yard out.

The visitors started to take control of the game and they were given a chance to double their advantage from the penalty spot, when Hendry Thomas fouled Young inside the box.

Young dusted himself down and went for power rather than placement, smashing the resulting spot-kick straight down the middle of the goal and into the net.

Wigan pulled a goal back 10 minutes from time when McCarthy unleashed a low drive which brushed the knees of Collins and wrong footed Friedel.

The hosts pressed for an equaliser and Friedel saved well when Di Santo met an N’Zogbia corner at the near post, but the goalkeeper was well positioned.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez urged his side to throw caution to the wind in the final few minutes but, with James Collins and Richard Dunne in such good form, the home side could not find a way through.