Soudani-ly a late leveller
A HUGELY contentious, last-gasp penalty let Forest grab a vital away point – but boss Aitor Karanka saw the positive side.
After their big Algerian Hillal Soudani had bundled home the rebound, when Lewis Grabban’s 91st minute spot kick was saved, Karanka (below) took heart from his side’s “tremendous fighting spirit”.
“We were fighting right to the last second and that is pleasing,” said Karanka, who has dished out £23million by bringing in no fewer than 13 new players.
But, after seeing his side go behind when Nick Powell put Wigan in the driving seat after just two minutes, Karanka added: “I reminded the players before kick-off to be careful against Wigan.
“They are a good group, have a good manager and they have the momentum of having gained promotion last season.
“It’s difficult to understand why the message wasn’t heeded, but the main thing was the spirit that got us the point.”
Matty Cash levelled eight minutes after Powell’s strike. Then Will Grigg put Wigan back ahead with a no-nonsense penalty – only for Soudani’s late, late show.
Latics’ boss Paul Cook admitted: “I don’t feel hard done by. Forest are a calibre side. We’re disappointed, but we got another point and the fans must be pleased with it.”
Those Wigan fans certainly know what a class act Powell is – and Forest learned that pretty smartish too.
The former Manchester United man scored after just two minutes to put Forest on the back foot.
But the game swung back Forest’s way as 21-year-old Matty Cash made no mistake eight minutes later. He was set up by £13.2m pre-season signing Joao Carvalho and Cash broke brilliantly to leave Wigan’s defence behind.
Stranded keeper Christian Walton tried to narrow the angle, but Cash kept his cool to hit a right-foot effort past him into the net.
Still the excitement went on as Wigan pressed hard, with Powell glancing a header wide from a cross by Michael Jacobs and lone striker Grigg hitting a leftfoot effort close.
Wigan’s second breakthrough came, courtesy of Grigg, who was brought down in the box by Ben Osborne.
Referee Geoff Eltringham had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and up stepped Grigg to hit the ball down the middle and over the sprawling body of keeper Costel Pantilimon.
Wigan still pressed, and skipper Sam Morsy hammered a shot which beat Pantilimon, but hit a post, with Powell having to snatch at the rebound, which he sent wide.
Then, when the high drama all seemed over, Soudani nicked his goal.