Mick McCarthy's Wolverhampton Wanderers scored their first points of the new Premier League season with a 1-0 win at Wigan.

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In a match that was characterised by a lot of Wolves bite and a bit of Wigan blight, the fate of the three points was decided as early as the sixth minute through Andy Keogh's glancing header, as Roberto Martinez tasted defeat for the first time as Wigan manager in his second game in charge of the team.

Wolves' direct approach had already caught the home side out once when Keogh raced on to a hopeful punt forward before arcing a right-footed shot that came back off Chris Kirkland's left-hand post with the keeper beaten.

If that was Wigan's warning then it went unheeded by the home team because, from the visitors' next attack, they took the lead.

Nenad Milijas, Wolves' stand-out performer in their opening day defeat to West Ham, delivered a free-kick 35 yards from goal and up rose Keogh to glance a header past the outstretched arm of Kirkland.

In their first match at the renamed DW Stadium, an acronym honouring Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, the Latics were labouring but still fashioned a great chance to level the scoring six minutes before half-time. However, when Charles N'Zogbia was confronted with Wayne Hennessey one-on-one, he dithered and the Wales international was ideally placed to smother.

Other than N'Zogbia's profligacy, only a deflected shot from Hugo Rodallega that narrowly cleared Hennessey's crossbar was able to rouse the home support from their seats.

With no changes to either side at the restart, Roberto Martinez's faith in his disappointing team was admirable but he was rewarded, partially at least, by an improved second-half performance from the home side.

Keogh remained a pest for the home side, though, and had justifiable claims for a penalty 10 minutes after the restart when he was upended by Titus Bramble. Mike Jones waved away the appeals and booked Keogh for his protestations.

That controversial incident - Keogh was not without just cause for complaining - would ensure a feisty end to the game and Wigan were also thwarted in their appeals for a penalty when Jason Scotland went down under challenge from Karl Henry.

The home side pressed, not altogether convincingly, for an equaliser and, with time running out, Rodallega's shot was deflected behind by Wolves' defensive stalwart, Jody Craddock.

When substitute Scott Sinclair's header finished agonisingly the wrong side of the post two minutes from full time, the home side knew the game was up.

For the considerable number of Wolves supporters massed behind one goal and who had made the trip from the West Midlands perhaps more in hope than expectation, a first taste of victory back in the big time is one they will savour.