Match ends, Wigan Athletic 2, Watford 1.
WiganWigan Athletic2WatfordWatford1
Martyn Waghorn's second-half goal against Watford earned Wigan a ninth win in 10 matches to strengthen the Latics' play-off chances.
Lewis McGugan drove the Hornets in front from 12 yards in the 36th minute.
Four minutes later, Ivan Ramis picked out Jean Beausejour and, after Manuel Almunia saved the Chilean's volley, the Wigan man converted the rebound.
Waghorn then turned in James McArthur's scuffed shot just before the hour to give Uwe Rosler's side the victory.
Wigan are now five points clear of seventh-placed Nottingham Forest with a game in hand.
Watford have failed to win in their last 14 away matches but moved in front when McGugan finished from Gabriele Angella's pass.
Beausejour pulled his team level when he turned in after Almunia had saved his first effort.
On-loan Leicester forward Waghorn then scored his third goal in eight appearances for the Latics when he collected McArthur's mis-hit shot to score from the edge of the area.
Wigan manager Uwe Rosler:
"We had the majority of the possession and far more attempts on goal.
"I felt we were very unfortunate to go a goal down, but we had to sort out one of two things defensively.
"We didn't panic when we went 1-0 down; we carried on playing and I felt we had chances in the second half to kill the game off completely."
Watford manager Giuseppe Sannino:
"When I lose I am always disappointed but I can say my lads gave everything in terms of effort, spirit and commitment.
"Let's not forget we were playing a very good side and we gave a good account of ourselves.
"I can see some positives from the performance. The lads showed me something more."
Line-ups
Wigan
Formation 4-3-3
- 26Al-Habsi
- 24Perch
- 22Beausejour
- 30KiernanSubstituted forRogneat 79'minutes
- 17Boyce
- 21Ramis
- 16McArthur
- 14Gómez García-Penche
- 32Fortuné
- 33WaghornBooked at 60minsSubstituted forCollisonat 61'minutes
- 11McCleanSubstituted forPowellat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Carson
- 6Rogne
- 15McManaman
- 19Powell
- 29Maynard
- 31Tunnicliffe
- 34Collison
Watford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Almunia
- 19Faraoni
- 18Pudil
- 4Angella
- 27Cassetti
- 5BelkalemSubstituted forEkstrandat 72'minutesBooked at 89mins
- 28TözsérBooked at 58mins
- 10McGuganSubstituted forDiakitéat 81'minutesBooked at 83mins
- 9Deeney
- 21Anya
- 7Battocchio
Substitutes
- 6Ekstrand
- 8Merkel
- 12Doyley
- 23Diakité
- 29Neill
- 30Bond
- 31Hoban
- Referee:
- Scott Duncan
- Attendance:
- 14,556
Match Stats
Home TeamWiganAway TeamWatford
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home4
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wigan Athletic 2, Watford 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. James McArthur (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Collison.
Post update
Offside, Watford. Marco Cassetti tries a through ball, but Troy Deeney is caught offside.
Booking
Joel Ekstrand (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Jordi Gómez (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Joel Ekstrand (Watford).
Post update
Marc-Antoine Fortuné (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Gabriele Angella (Watford).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Samba Diakité (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Daniel Tözsér (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Cristian Battocchio.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marc-Antoine Fortuné (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ikechi Anya (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Booking
Samba Diakité (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Jordi Gómez (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Samba Diakité (Watford).
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Samba Diakité replaces Lewis McGugan.
Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Thomas Rogne.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Thomas Rogne replaces Robert Kiernan because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ikechi Anya (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
