Match ends, Wigan Athletic 0, Watford 2.
WiganWigan Athletic0WatfordWatford2
Two goals from Troy Deeney lifted Watford to the top of the Championship on goal difference as they beat strugglers Wigan.
An even contest was decided by two clinical pieces of finishing with Deeney heading home Adlene Guedioura's cross early in the second half.
Then, with 90 minutes played, Fernando Forestieri was felled in the penalty area by Emmerson Boyce.
Deeney sent Ali Al Habsi the wrong way for his 19th goal of the season.
Watford are one goal better off than second-placed Middlesbrough, who beat Derby. Bournemouth slipped to third after a draw with Cardiff.
The result at the DW Stadium marked a triumphant return for Ben Watson, Wigan's 2013 FA Cup-winning goalscorer, whose January move to Vicarage Road has ignited the Hornets' promotion push.
In contrast, his former team remain six points from safety, having played a game more than Rotherham, who are a place above them and clear of the relegation zone.
Wigan never gave up the fight but remain winless on home soil for more than six months heading into Saturday's visit of local rivals Bolton.
Deeney was a threat throughout and twice came close to scoring early on but Al Habsi was equal to both chances.
Wigan's Leon Clarke had a goal disallowed for offside and team-mate Marc-Antoine Fortune had the hosts' best chance of the first half, but his half-volley was straight at Heurelho Gomes.
Sheyi Ojo was also guilty of profligacy as he squandered Jermaine Pennant's cross.
After surviving those scares, Watford went ahead as Guedioura led a devastating counter-attack and turned provider for Deeney.
And the striker made no mistake from the spot in injury time to send the visiting fans home content.
Wigan boss Malky Mackay:
"Troy Deeney is a terrific centre-forward - that's why I bought him to Watford in the first place. He's far and away the best centre-forward in this division, he's an all-rounder.
"Quite rightly because of his hard work, he will end up in the Premier League - one way or another.
"We went toe-to-toe with Watford and for vast parts of the game we were equal with them. You would think something would drop for you, but they were putting their bodies on the line and showing why they are where they are at the moment."
Watford manager Slavisa Jokanovic:
"Troy Deeney is in a good moment of form, which is good news for us. The first goal was really out of nothing, and he attacked the ball well.
"I am also happy with how he is working without the ball, and pressing the opposition centre-backs.
"We started the game a little bit waiting to see what was going to happen, and in the first half it was 50-50. In the second half we played with more offensive play, we scored a goal and we then could have scored more."
Line-ups
Wigan
Formation 4-4-2
- 26Al Habsi
- 17Boyce
- 4Maguire
- 28Pearce
- 20Bong
- 15PennantSubstituted forMurphyat 55'minutes
- 24PerchBooked at 74mins
- 16Kim
- 18OjoSubstituted forKvistat 62'minutes
- 32FortunéSubstituted forSinclairat 82'minutes
- 21Clarke
Substitutes
- 10Mckay
- 13Nicholls
- 19Cowie
- 25Barnett
- 27Murphy
- 31Sinclair
- 36Kvist
Watford
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Gomes
- 15CathcartSubstituted forParedesat 71'minutes
- 6Ekstrand
- 4Angella
- 31Hoban
- 3Munari
- 47MottaSubstituted forForestieriat 45'minutesBooked at 53mins
- 23Watson
- 5GuédiouraBooked at 18mins
- 9Deeney
- 20VydraSubstituted forTozserat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Layun
- 8Tozser
- 11Forestieri
- 14Paredes
- 21Anya
- 24Ighalo
- 30Bond
- Referee:
- David Coote
- Attendance:
- 10,684
Match Stats
Home TeamWiganAway TeamWatford
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away6
- Corners
- Home7
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wigan Athletic 0, Watford 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Gaëtan Bong (Wigan Athletic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kim Bo-Kyung with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Tommy Hoban.
Post update
Offside, Wigan Athletic. Ali Al Habsi tries a through ball, but Leon Clarke is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
Post update
Jason Pearce (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Wigan Athletic 0, Watford 2. Troy Deeney (Watford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Penalty Watford. Fernando Forestieri draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Emmerson Boyce (Wigan Athletic) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Foul by Adlène Guédioura (Watford).
Post update
Emmerson Boyce (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Offside, Wigan Athletic. Emmerson Boyce tries a through ball, but Leon Clarke is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Fernando Forestieri (Watford).
Post update
William Kvist (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Joel Ekstrand (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jerome Sinclair (Wigan Athletic).
Post update
Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
Post update
Harry Maguire (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Gianni Munari (Watford).
