View from the away end

Wigan moved into a play-off spot with a convincing 4-1 victory at promotion rivals Nottingham Forest.

Goals by Martyn Waghorn, Emmerson Boyce, James McArthur and Jordi Gomez produced an emphatic scoreline despite a solitary reply from Jamie Paterson.

Forest may be struggling with injuries but Uwe Rösler’s men fully deserved the three points which puts them firmly in the promotion frame.

Both teams set out to attack from the off with chances at both ends.

Simon Cox was the first to threaten for Forest when Leon Barnett tried to play the ball back to Ali Al Habsi, but the Omani keeper rushed out to put him off and the striker miskicked horribly wide.

Latics then threatened when Nicky Maynard controlled Boyce’s long pass, only for his left footed shot to be dragged wide of the right post.

Soon afterwards the returning James Perch nearly got on the scoresheet when a corner wasn’t cleared, it fell to McCann who shot through the bodies in the box and Perch almost scored but Darlow saved low down.

On 35 minutes they went ahead through Leicester City loanee Martyn Waghorn. Gomez and McArthur played a one-two on the right hand side, Gomez cut inside and his left footed shot ricocheted off two defenders and into the path of Waghorn who produced a right footed finish.

Latics edged the first half on chances and deservedly went into the break ahead but Forest were also creating opportunities in what was a very open game.

The away team nearly went two ahead in the opening minute of the second period when a superb through ball by Gomez nearly found Maynard, Collins slipped and inadvertently played the ball to Waghorn but the striker couldn’t get the ball out of his feet to shoot.

Forest responded and attacked down the right and Mackie cut down the by-line, beating Beausejour but putting his low cross straight into the hands of Al Habsi.

On 54 minutes Forest drew level as Latics failed to clear a free kick and Jamie Paterson’s effort deflected off Barnett to beat Al Habsi.

Ten minutes later Latics were back in front. Gomez was again at the centre of the action as he played a lovely 40 yard pass, Halford headed the ball down into the path of Waghorn who volleyed into the ground, it bounced up into the path of Boyce who nodded the ball into the bottom corner.

On 70 minutes James McArthur made it 3-1 when he fired low into the bottom left corner of the Forest goal. McClean’s low shot hit Waghorn on the heel and the ball fell back into the path of McArthur who found the back of the net for the second week running.

Wigan were now well on top and the Forest threat was diminishing.

McClean was posing a constant threat down both wings, first firing a shot just wide of the right post before producing a great run from the right and crossing low but no Latics player could get on the end of it.

In the last-minute of normal time Gomez produced a moment of magic to make it 4-1. The Spanish midfielder curled a superb bending shot high into the corner of the net from outside 30 yards out.

Latics have now won their last five games in all competitions and notably four of them have been away. A place in the end of the season play-offs is within reach and promotion back to the Premier League which looked unlikely under Owen Coyle now appears to be achievable under the excellent stewardship of Uwe Rösler.