Match ends, Aston Villa 3, Wigan Athletic 2.
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce said his side's dramatic stoppage-time win against Wigan Athletic was testament to the "resilience" of his squad following a turbulent off-field summer for the club.
Birkir Bjarnason scored in the fourth minute of added time as Villa came from behind to stun the Latics in a five-goal thriller.
"We've come through it with a bit of resilience, which is evident after a difficult summer for everybody," Bruce told BBC WM.
"They're a very good side, who caused us a lot of problems, but we've managed to get through.
"To win back-to-back games with all the difficulties we've had, is huge."
Villa suffered a number of financial problems following last season's play-off final defeat by Fulham - a loss which cost them £160m.
However, billionaire businessmen Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris were brought in last month to inject "significant investment".
And, as well as having new signings John McGinn, from Hibernian and Norwegian keeper Orjan Nyland making their debut, Villa also had star winger Jack Grealish still on show after being able to turn down Tottenham Hotspur's deadline bid.
"John McGinn is a player we couldn't buy two weeks ago," added Bruce. "The new owners have blown new life into the club."
Things started brightly for the home side when skipper James Chester earlier headed Villa in front from a McGinn free-kick on the left.
But Nyland made a mess of a back pass from Mile Jedinak to gift Nick Powell a 41st-minute leveller.
Callum Connolly then headed the Latics in front after the interval with a far-post header from Powell's cross.But, eight minutes later, Latics defender Chey Dunkley put through his own net in a scramble to make it 2-2.
And, from Conor Hourihane's cross, Icelandic international Bjarnason slid in to win it to help Bruce's men maintain their 100% winning start against one of his former clubs.
Villa's victory followed Monday's 3-1 win at Hull City, also one of Bruce's old clubs. And it is the first time Villa have kicked off the season with successive league wins since 1999-00, when they did so in the Premier League under John Gregory.
"We've been behind in both games so far," said Bruce said. "But, we've come back to score three, as we did on Monday, so overall a decent start.
"I have to say to have 34,000 supporters here with the problems we've had, just shows the attraction we still have as a club."
For Paul Cook's Wigan, losing an end-to-end classic which could have gone either way, was a first defeat since promotion back to the second tier in May.
Wigan used two of their new signings, striker Josh Windass and on-loan Sheffield United midfielder Lee Evans, who both came off the bench.
Wigan manager Paul Cook:
"I was happy with all aspects of the game except the result. We wanted to give a good performance against Villa and the players did that.
"But Villa have some quality players and anyone of them can pop up and get a goal.
"We are disappointed as I feel a draw would have been a fair result. The disappointment will drive us on."
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Nyland
- 4TuanzebeSubstituted forAdomahat 65'minutes
- 5Chester
- 15Jedinak
- 21Hutton
- 27El Mohamady
- 7McGinn
- 20Bjarnason
- 19GreenSubstituted forHepburn-Murphyat 74'minutes
- 10GrealishBooked at 86mins
- 26KodjiaSubstituted forHourihaneat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Taylor
- 6Whelan
- 14Hourihane
- 23Campos Moreira
- 24Elphick
- 29Hepburn-Murphy
- 37Adomah
Wigan
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Walton
- 12James
- 22DunkleyBooked at 66mins
- 21Kipre
- 3Robinson
- 26Connolly
- 5MorsyBooked at 58mins
- 15McManamanBooked at 50minsSubstituted forEvansat 54'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 25PowellSubstituted forWindassat 68'minutes
- 17Jacobs
- 9GriggSubstituted forVaughanat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Walker
- 8Vaughan
- 10Windass
- 14Bruce
- 18Roberts
- 23Jones
- 36Evans
- Referee:
- Jeremy Simpson
- Attendance:
- 34,331
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away16
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 3, Wigan Athletic 2.
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Foul by Jack Grealish (Aston Villa).
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James Vaughan (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 3, Wigan Athletic 2. Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Conor Hourihane with a cross.
Booking
Lee Evans (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Alan Hutton (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lee Evans (Wigan Athletic).
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Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Alan Hutton.
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Attempt blocked. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ahmed El Mohamady with a cross.
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Foul by John McGinn (Aston Villa).
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Cheyenne Dunkley (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Conor Hourihane replaces Jonathan Kodjia.
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Delay in match Callum Connolly (Wigan Athletic) because of an injury.
Booking
Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Jack Grealish (Aston Villa).
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Callum Connolly (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. Cedric Kipre (Wigan Athletic) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Lee Evans with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by James Chester.
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Attempt blocked. Josh Windass (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Morsy.