It’s official then – season starts here for Villa.

After a spluttering campaign which has seen the claret and blues lurch from one problem to the next, they have finally done something which felt impossible barely a month ago and won two football matches in a row.

In fact, Villa achieved back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since former manager Martin O’Neill’s side recorded victories over Hull, Birmingham and Portsmouth in April 2010.

They have ‘turned the corner’ that many times this season you couldn’t help but feel they were right back where they started from. But this is the real deal.

During the dark days of December, Gerard Houllier admitted he wanted “players to go to war with” but, at that time, the rank and file troops were unconvinced of their French general and a revolt seemed more likely than a call to arms.

But Houllier has subsequently turned some of his reluctant deserters into a crack unit who are prepared to put themselves on the line for the Villa cause.

Yet again, James Collins and Richard Dunne were immense at the heart of the defence, while goalkeeper Brad Friedel showed enough to suggest he should not just be casually discarded at the end of the season when his contract expires, despite his age.

Undoubtedly the arrival of Darren Bent has been the catalyst for Villa’s recent revival and his £24million move from Sunderland could yet be crucial in the future of another of the club’s star players.

The scouts were out in force at the DW Stadium to watch Ashley Young and they will have left with notebooks full of ticks after his performance against Wigan.

Young remains the subject of speculation linking him with a move to Liverpool, who were rumoured to be among the interested parties casting an eye over the winger last night.

But it’s imperative the claret and blues do everything they can to ward off interest from other clubs.

Houllier had no issues with rotating his squad following the morale-boosting win over Manchester City and made three changes from Saturday.

The Frenchman handed a debut to Jean Makoun, who showed some nice touches but looked troubled by a pitch which had been badly cut up.

Nathan Baker was also handed his first senior start at left-back as he deputised for the injured Ciaran Clark, who pulled out of the match with a hamstring problem.

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

Bent found himself with a shooting opportunity moments later, when Young found him with a long free-kick to bring a smart save out of goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi with a low shot.

Hugo Rodallega then had a golden opportunity in the 23rd minute, after being put through by James McCarthy, but could only blaze his shot over.

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

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

You sensed that Agbonlahor just needed a scrappy goal to break a barren spell in the Premier League that went all the way back to last April. It didn’t quite go in off his backside, but it’s doubtful he will get an easier chance.

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

Young dusted himself down and went for power rather than placement in smashing the spot-kick straight down the middle.

But the hosts pulled a goal back 10 minutes from time, when McCarthy unleashed a low drive which wrong-footed Friedel.

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

By Timothy Abraham