Shola Ameobi's decisive strike came after Lee McCulloch had cancelled out captain Scott Parker's 38th-minute opener.
Glenn Roeder: "Am I pleased to get three points? On the opening day of the season, anyone would be. Overall, it was a deserved three points even though Wigan made it difficult.
"They have two banks of four working very hard and making it difficult for the opposition, and two strikers who will be hard to play against this year."