Burton claimed one of the biggest scalps in their history as Dominic Knowles and Stuart Beavon steered them to a 2-1 Capital One Cup victory over Wigan.
Marc-Antione Fortune gave the Latics the lead but the League Two side struck back with goals either side of the interval to steer the Brewers into round two.
Wigan boss Uwe Rosler made wholesale changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Reading in their Championship opener.
And it took the reshuffled side time to settle as Burton threatened an early goal.
Latics keeper Ali Al-Habsi was tested by an Adam McGurk shot, while Beavon and Lucas Akins both missed the target.
The Championship side took the lead against the run of play in the 24th minute as Fortune pounced on a loose ball and turned cleverly before lashing an eight-yard shot into the bottom corner of the net.
But Burton battled back to equalise on the stroke of half-time when John Mousinho's low cross was turned home from close range by Knowles, who had replaced the injured McGurk.
The hosts maintained their momentum to snatch the winner in the 52nd minute when an Akins shot fell for Beavon to shoot home from 10 yards.