BRYAN Gunn's battling City side twice came from behind to beat Premiership Wigan Athletic 3-2 in an entertaining final friendly of the summer at Carrow Road.

Charles N'Zogbia and Won-Hee Cho edged the visitors in front with goals early in each half but both times young striker Chris Martin struck to level the game. With 15 minutes to go a superb pass from Wes Hoolahan allowed winger Simon Whaley to grab the winner with a slide-rule finish in off the post, completing an impressive unbeaten summer of friendlies for the Canaries.

City boss Gunn handed Scottish midfielder Stephen Hughes his first appearance following his move from Motherwell. Michael Spillane partnered Gary Doherty at the heart of the defence, as Michael Nelson wasn't risked following his concussion suffered at Selhurst Park on Tuesday. New signings Jens Berthel Askou and Goran Maric didn't receive international clearance to figure in this afternoon's match.

After City had enjoyed a solid start they fell behind against the run of play in the ninth minute, when Wes Hoolahan was caught in possession and Charles N'Zogbia coolly stepped round two defenders before slotting a low shot past Theoklitos in the Norwich goal.

The Canaries continued to enjoy more than their fair share of possession but found it hard to get in behind a resolute Wigan defence, while the Premiership side clearly had the pace and strength to pose a constant threat on the counter. However industrious play from the City midfield and defence restricted the visitors to only the odd half-chance in the first half-hour, a Jason Koumas effort which sailed a foot over in the 28th minute the closest they came to extending their early lead.

At the other end an interception by Hoolahan saw the Irishman feed the ball to Chris Martin in the Wigan box, but the young striker dragged his effort wide from a tight angle. In the next attack on 33 minutes, Hoolahan showed great guile to skip round the last man and closed in on the Wigan goal, but at the last moment opted to try and pick out Martin with an over-hit pass when a shot was on.

In the 35th minute Tudur Jones was left hobbling in some pain after twisting into an awkward challenge but he was able to rejoin play after receiving treatment from Physio Simon Spencer.

The Canaries hauled themselves back on to level terms with a great goal on the break a minute later. It came when Stephen Hughes spotted the overlapping run of Jon Otsemobor on the right flank with a great pass - and the right-back shrugged off the attentions of two Wigan defenders before slotting a low ball into the path of Martin, who calmly fired home from six yards.

Half-time: Norwich City 1, Wigan Athletic 1

MIDFIELD TUSSLE: Wes Hoolahan shields the
ball from Wigan's Lee Cattermole

At the break Wigan boss Roberto Martinez rang the changes, fielding virtually an entirely different side to that which started the game. There was a lengthy delay to the second half getting underway as Wigan seemed to struggle to put the changes into affect, 'keeper Pollitt receiving ironic cheers when he finally ran out to resume his place between the sticks.

But once play did get underway the new-look visitors wasted no time in providing illustration of the strength in depth a Premiership squad enjoys, as they regained the lead just three minutes into the half. A neat interchange on the edge of the City box gave Won-Hee Cho the opportunity to lash home a fierce 16-yard drive.

In the 55th minute another sweeping Wigan break ended with Jordi Gomez hitting a low shot narrowly wide while at the other end Simon Whaley burst clear before crashing a shot goalwards and forcing Pollitt into a fingertip save.

But within a minute the Canaries had once again battled back on to level terms as Hughes fed the ball through to Martin from the edge of the area and the striker took a touch before slotting home his second goal of the game.

Bryan Gunn made a double change in the centre of midfield, with Matt Gill and Tom Adeyemi replacing Hughes and Tudur Jones on 58 minutes and then ten minutes later two-goal hero Martin left to a warm ovation, with Cody McDonald coming on.

WINGER WHALEY'S WIGAN WINNER: Simon Whaley fires
home the winner against Wigan Athletic at Carrow Road

With 15 minutes of the game remaining the Canaries stunned their Premiership opponents by taking the lead with a classy goal on the break. Matt Gill and Wes Hoolahan combined with some great passing on the left flank before Hoolahan picked out the sprinting figure of Simon Whaley with a pinpoint cross-field pass. The winger still had work to do as the ball fell into his stride but slid home a great finish in off the base of the far post.

Final score: Norwich City 3, Wigan Athletic 2

CITY: Theoklitos, Otsemobor, Drury, Tudur Jones (Gill 58), Doherty (c), Spillane, Whaley, Hughes (Adeyemi 58), Holt (Cureton 77), Martin (McDonald 69), Hoolahan. Subs not used: Alnwick (GK), Lappin, McVeigh.

Wigan: Pollitt, Melchiot (c) (Boyce 46), Figueroa (Edman 46), Cattermole (Brown 46), Bramble, Thomas (Gomez 46), Scharner, Watson (Cho 46), Rodallega (Scotland 46), Koumas (Bouaouzan 46), N'Zogbia (de Ridder 46). Subs not used: Nicholls (GK), Kupisz.

Referee: Kevin Wright

Attendance: 8,927