Match ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Wigan Athletic 0.
Nottm ForestNottingham Forest3WiganWigan Athletic0
Dougie Freedman celebrated his first home game as Nottingham Forest manager with a victory over Wigan Athletic.
Striker Britt Assombalonga slid home Chris Burke's through-ball to put Forest ahead.
The home side doubled their lead after the break when Michail Antonio found Burke, who blasted home via the post.
Henri Lansbury sealed the win when he curled in from the edge of the box but Freedman's day was not perfect as Forest lost Assombalonga to injury.
Freedman has won his two opening games, after a run of six defeats in seven had cost predecessor Stuart Pearce his job.
The result, Forest's first home win since 8 November, takes them up two places into 10th, having slipped from the top of the Championship table in September to 12th spot.
But Wigan are in real danger of relegation to League One, eight points off safety with 16 games left, less than two years after they beat Manchester City at Wembley to win the FA Cup.
Wigan boss Malky Mackay has failed to turn things around since taking over as manager in November. They have only won once in his 14 games, against Leeds on Boxing Day.
The Latics' first chance came through Kim Bo-kyung, who joined the club last week despite being allegedly the subject of an offensive text message sent by Mackay at their previous club, Cardiff.
Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman:
"We don't know exactly how bad Britt Assombalonga's injury is yet, but he will go for an MRI scan in the morning.
"Then the doctor will give me his opinion on what's happening. He will get a second reading and will let me know by Friday.
"He slipped as he went to shoot and his knee gave way on the grass. We're looking at least a few weeks, but we don't really know.
"I felt it dampened the crowd a little bit and both sides went very null and just wanted to finish the game. I was, though, so pleased for the fans that saw a convincing win, three different goalscorers, a clean sheet and a committed performance."
Wigan boss Malky Mackay:
"I was disappointed with the result and performance. We lost a poor goal and then we had too many players below par. Players have to take responsibility and there wasn't enough of that, and not enough quality.
"We had two or three who passed muster, but the rest were not up to it.
"We have to make sure we give our fans who travel to Reading for our next game a better display than that."
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Darlow
- 2Lichaj
- 25Hobbs
- 5Collins
- 13Fox
- 27BurkeSubstituted forPatersonat 76'minutes
- 22Gardner
- 10Lansbury
- 38Osborn
- 18AntonioSubstituted forBlackstockat 86'minutes
- 9AssombalongaSubstituted forFryattat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Fryatt
- 16Lascelles
- 17Kane
- 21Paterson
- 23Blackstock
- 24Vaughan
- 29de Vries
Wigan
Formation 4-5-1
- 26Al Habsi
- 24Perch
- 25Barnett
- 27Ridgewell
- 3Taylor
- 16KimSubstituted forOjoat 54'minutes
- 8HerdSubstituted forWaghornat 64'minutes
- 36Kvist
- 19Cowie
- 11McClean
- 21ClarkeSubstituted forMckayat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Carson
- 4Maguire
- 10Mckay
- 18Ojo
- 28Pearce
- 32Fortuné
- 33Waghorn
- Referee:
- Oliver Langford
- Attendance:
- 19,619
Match Stats
Home TeamNottm ForestAway TeamWigan
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home12
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home4
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Wigan Athletic 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James McClean (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sheyi Ojo.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Leon Barnett.
Post update
Liam Ridgewell (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jamie Paterson (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Offside, Wigan Athletic. Leon Barnett tries a through ball, but Sheyi Ojo is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Billy McKay (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Billy McKay replaces Leon Clarke.
Post update
Attempt saved. James McClean (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sheyi Ojo.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Don Cowie (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Dexter Blackstock replaces Michail Antonio.
Post update
Offside, Nottingham Forest. Karl Darlow tries a through ball, but Matty Fryatt is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Leon Barnett.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Taylor (Wigan Athletic).
Post update
Michail Antonio (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Danny Collins.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James McClean (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sheyi Ojo.
Post update
Leon Barnett (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Michail Antonio (Nottingham Forest).
