Wigan boss Roberto Martinez declared Saturday's 1-0 victory over Norwich their most pleasing display of the season.
Arouna Kone grabbed the only goal of the game in the 81st minute to secure two notable firsts, with Wigan managing their first ever league win over Norwich and also their first success of the season following an international break.
Martinez said: "Before the game I knew it was going to be a really tricky fixture. First because we've never managed to win a game after an international break."
He added: "We are very unusual with the amount of internationals we have and to have 13 players leaving the club makes things very difficult from a physical point of view.
"And because of that reason we couldn't be our normal selves in possession. I don't think we were stylish as we normally are, but what we showed is an incredible character. Every player found a way to help the team to keep Norwich very quiet."
It was a sixth goal in six games for Kone, but Norwich boss Chris Hughton felt they shot themselves in the foot after Wes Hoolahan gave the ball away in midfield, while Lee Camp might have done better at his near post.
"With us having been so solid, I couldn't see that goal happening," said Hughton. "For me, it's a soft goal. We lost the ball in the middle of the park and one good strike saw them get the goal they needed."
Hughton was frustrated his side ended up with nothing, saying: "When you go away from home sometimes you have to hold your hand up if you've been beaten and beaten well but I don't think anybody seeing the game today would think that.
"We certainly deserved a draw and then it's just going to be about those moments. They had it and we didn't.
"But I thought for an away team we had good periods of the game where we had good control but it's one moment that's beaten us. It's very disappointing."
Source: PA
