The Town returned to winning ways as a first-half goal from George Saville was enough to edge past Wigan at Kenilworth Road.

Saville’s first goal in Hatters colours arrived in the ninth minute when he connected with Liam Walsh’s left-wing cross.

But the Town lived dangerously in the first period as Wigan struck the woodwork twice and were denied by a string of fine stops by Josh Keeley.

It was a different story in the second half as the Hatters dominated but Matt Bloomfield’s side could not force home a second to kill off the Latics with substitute Lasse Nordås hitting the post late on.

But victory erased the memory of Saturday’s defeat at Bradford with the Town showing three changes from the weekend loss in Yorkshire. Gideon Kodua and Cohen Bramall made their first league starts for the Hatters at right and left wing-back respectively with Walsh recalled in midfield.

The Town started brightly and were rewarded with Saville’s early goal. Walsh was the architect, keeping the ball in play down the left flank and curling a dangerous cross into the box that Saville met first time, guiding the ball accurately into the far corner.

Ahead, the Hatters were almost pegged back on 15 minutes when Will Aimson arrowed a well-hit drive from the edge of the box that pinged flush off the post.

It was a warning to the Town but 10 minutes later they had Keeley to thank to prevent the Latics from levelling once more. Paul Mullin latched onto a fine forward pass but the Hatters goalkeeper stood tall and blocked the striker’s effort.

Back came the Hatters, Jordan Clark showing fine close control to tip-toe into the box and force Wigan keeper Sam Tickle into a reaction save.

However the respite was brief as the visitors struck the woodwork for the second time on 29 minutes. Keeley dropped a high ball into the box and from the loose ball Aimson turned but could not find the target with the goal at his mercy, his shot striking the bar.

The pressure from the visitors continued. Keeley was sharp to get down to his right to turn away a glancing header from Callum Wright before Bramall and Kodua did well with interventions in the penalty area as half-time approached.

But Keeley reserved his best stop moments before the break when his reflexes turned away a point-blank striker from Wigan skipper Jason Kerr.

In front at the interval, the Town were on the front foot at the start of the second half as they looked to double their advantage. Nordås joined the action for Bramall on 56 minutes with Alli dropping to left-wing back and the Hatters’ number 7 came close to making it 2-0 moments later with a blast from distance that stung the palms of Tickle.

While the Hatters continued to press, Nordås saw a shot blocked after neat skill on the half-way line on 77 minutes and 10 minutes later the Norwegian came even closer with a disguised low effort that came back off the post.

As time ticked down Nordås was mighty close to breaking his duck in Town colours when his close range header was diverted away from goal by the slightest of touches by Aimson before another piledriver from Alli was parried to safety by Tickle.

Wigan had barely threatened Keeley’s goal in the second period but they spurned one final chance at the death to level. A corner from the left dropped in the box at the feet of keeper Tickle, up from the back, but his effort flashed agonisingly past the post.

That was the final chance to signal a win and another clean sheet for the Hatters. That’s three wins from four and three clean sheets to start the season.

Solid stuff from the Town who return here on Saturday for an early one against Cardiff. We’ll see you then. UTT.

Town: Keeley, Kodua (sub Nelson 66), Bramall (sub Nordås 56), McGuinness, Lonwijk, Naismith, Saville, Clark, Walsh, Alli, Yates (sub Holmes 90+1).

Subs not used: Shea, Woodrow, Fanne, Baptiste.

Attendance: 10,751, including 562 from Wigan.