Wigan Kick Off at the DW Stadium

Wigan secured their first home win of the season and inflicted Nottingham Forest’s first defeat of the Championship campaign.

Forest had taken the lead early in the first half through a superb Andy Reid free kick. But Latics equalised quickly through a Shaun Maloney penalty after Marc-Antoine Fortune was brought down by Jack Hobbs.

The home team took the lead on 35 minutes when Fortune’s strike came back off the cross-bar and Jordi Gomez was on hand to score.

Latics were the dominant force in the first half and Forest had the better of the second 45 minutes, but Owen Coyle’s team held on to take the important three points as they attempt to make a quick return to the Premier League.

Coyle is not afraid to shuffle his pack and made numerous changes from the starting line up from the last game against Middlesbrough. Thomas Rogne made his Championship debut in central defence with Ben Watson, Roger Espinoza, and Jordi Gomez starting in midfield and Shaun Maloney returning from injury upfront.

The visitors came into the game in good form and looking to extend their unbeaten run having secured ten points from their previous four games.

Latics started the brighter of the teams but it was Forest who took the lead on eight minutes. Henri Lansbury was brought down by Leon Barnett on the edge of the penalty area and Reid stepped up to curl his free kick beyond Scott Carson and in off the post.

Despite the set back Latics continued to play their football with Espinoza, Gomez and Maloney at the centre of their best moves.

The equaliser came on 14 minutes when Fortune was brought down in the penalty area by Hobbs and Maloney converted despite Forest keeper Karl Darlow getting a hand to the ball.

On 35 minutes Latics deservedly took the lead when Fortune unleashed a looping volley which crashed against the cross-bar and Gomez followed up the rebound to score his second goal in two games.

The first half ended with Wigan on top but Forest always looking dangerous on the break.

The second half was a different story as Forest piled on the pressure, Reid headed over from Eric Lichaj’s cross before Jamie Mackie had a better chance with a header that just cleared the Latics bar.

The last thirty minutes were played out in the Wigan half, but the home team were looking much more solid in defence than in previous games with the young Norwegian Rogne having an excellent game at centre back.

Despite Forest’s dominance, they nearly conceded a third in the dying minutes when James McCarthy broke down the left, but his pass was behind substitute James McClean and the chance had gone.

Forest manager Billy Davies may feel aggrieved that Forest were unable to secure a point as despite all their second half pressure they were unable to seriously test Scott Carson in the Wigan goal.

Owen Coyle will be pleased with the improved defensive performance and the three points which moves Wigan up to eighth in the Championship table after five games played.