Gareth Taylor dented Wigan's Coca-Cola Championship title hopes with a late equaliser as Forest snatched a deserved point at the City Ground.

High-flying Wigan made all the early running and, although they could not find the finishing touch in the first half, they took the lead through Lee McCulloch soon after the restart.

But Gary Megson's relegation battlers dug in after the interval and, by the time Taylor rose to head home his 11th goal of the season from the impressive James Perch's cross, Forest were worthy of a point.

Wigan created all the early chances with Jimmy Bullard and Nathan Ellington both seeing 20-yard shots blocked by Forest defender Chris Doig, while Gary Teale pulled his left-foot effort from similar distance wide.

A Paul Evans corner briefly troubled Wigan goalkeeper John Filan at his near post but Wigan peppered the Forest penalty area with a succession of crosses from Bullard and Teale.

The home side had not managed a single effort on target until Gregor Robertson's header from Evans' cross forced Filan to save in the 26th minute.

Teale was prominent for the visitors, his pace causing all sorts of problems down Forest's right-hand side and it was from another of his crosses that Graham Kavanagh drilled in a shot straight at keeper Paul Gerrard from 25 yards.

Perch made his first contribution with a stinging long-range shot that David Wright blocked.

Ellington then fired wide for Wigan and, although more crosses rained in on their box from Bullard and Leighton Baines, Forest wrestled a more equal share of possession towards the break.

Wigan defender Nicky Eaden flashed a volley on goal just before the interval, but Matthieu Louis-Jean threw his body in the way and Forest held on until the half-time whistle.

But there was no let-up for Forest with Wigan bursting on to the attack straight from the restart.

Jason Roberts fired in a shot from the edge of the penalty area that Gerrard parried but McCulloch pounced and celebrated his call into the Scotland squad earlier this week by sliding home the rebound in the 47th minute.

Forest boss Megson sent on Kris Commons in a tactical switch soon after but Gerrard was soon forced into action again, saving brilliantly twice in succession from two long-range efforts from Bullard.

Forest responded, with Perch seeing his shot from Robertson's cross blocked by Eaden before Gerrard held on to Kavanagh's blistering drive.

Commons then fired a 35-yard free-kick over the bar after Kavanagh had handled.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell sent on new loan signing Brett Ormerod for leading scorer Ellington just after an hour.

Filan was on his toes to hold Forest substitute Eugen Bopp's 30-yard shot - Bopp had replaced Evans - while Commons then saw his thunderbolt well held by the Wigan keeper.

Commons fired another long-range free-kick over the crossbar and then crossed for John Thompson, who headed just over as Forest chased an equaliser.

Wigan were undone though by Perch, who broke free down the left and crossed for Taylor to head beyond Filan for an 85th-minute leveller.

Wigan were stung into a late rally and Bullard and McCulloch went close, but Megson's side fully deserved a point.

Teams

Nottm Forest Gerrard, Louis-Jean (James 73), Doig, Morgan, Robertson, Thompson, Perch, Evans (Bopp 64), Gardner (Commons 53), Dobie, Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Rogers.

Booked: Taylor.

Goals: Taylor 85.

Wigan Filan, Baines, Eaden, Wright, Breckin, Teale (Jarrett 78), Bullard, Kavanagh, McCulloch, Roberts, Ellington (Ormerod 65).

Subs Not Used: Jackson, Graham, Walsh.

Goals: McCulloch 46.

Att: 24,008

Ref: S Mathieson (Cheshire).