Forest v Wigan: points of interest

Forest are in action for the fourth time in 11 days with a League Cup tie at home to Premier League misfits Wigan Athletic, a team whose average home attendance is lower than ours but nevertheless serve as a good example to Forest, not only showing how a bit of sound financial investment can establish you in the top flight, but also currently playing easy-on-the-eye football under Roberto Martínez.

It’s a prospect that excites the Through the Seasons Before Us blogger (normally the first to express apathy towards seemingly meaningless cup ties), though he is correctly anticipating a ‘tough challenge’.

Interest in this fixture, one that might not usually grab the attention of the Nottingham public, is mainly down to the impressive start Sean O’Driscoll has made to his managerial career and eighteensixtyfive highlight his positive footballing philosophy in their summary of recent events.

Peter Blackburn has gone into analytical mode on Seat Pitch, dissecting the fluid formations we’ve been playing in to see how that philosophy translates on the pitch. Hopefully Martínez doesn’t read the article and get inside information on how the Forest team works, because, as Will Ward points out on Football Fan Cast, the Reds’ best chance this season could be to sneak under the radar.

Of course, beating a Premier League side might just be the warning other Championship clubs need that we might be a threat this season, but really all we’re looking for in this game is a continuation of the good football and gelling of the team we’ve seen in the games so far, as well as seeing how we react to the challenge. There may be no league points up for grabs tonight, but there are certainly points of interest as far as Forest go.