Wigan 1-1 Watford

By Pranav Soneji

Camara scored his first goal of the season

Goals from Henri Camara and Hamuer Bouazza earned Wigan and Watford a point each in an entertaining draw.

Wigan took the lead on 28 minutes when Malkay Mackay's poor headed clearance found striker Camara, who slotted past keeper Ben Foster from 12 yards.

Keeper Chris Kirkland kept his side in the lead when he parried Marlon King's 52nd-minute strike on to the post.

Bouazza scored his first goal in seven months to earn Watford their first away point with a fine 25-yard free-kick.

Interview: Wigan assistant boss Chris Hutchings

Interview: Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd

The goal marked a spirited second-half fightback by Adrian Boothroyd's side after a lacklustre first 45 minutes.

Wigan made a positive start and monopolised the goalscoring chances in the first half.

Only a late offside flag denied striker Emile Heskey, who was through on goal with only keeper Ben Foster to beat on 20 minutes.

But the home crowd were soon on their feet when a defensive mix-up between Jordan Stewart and Mackay handed Camara his first Premiership goal of the season.

Neither defender dealt with Kirkland's speculative upfield clearance with any authority and when Mackay's timid clearance found Camara, the striker calmly slotted past Foster from 12 yards on 29 minutes.

Watford's defenders immediately appealed for offside but referee Rob Styles allowed the goal to stand after consulting assistant Andy Halliday.

Camara could have notched a first-half hat-trick had he not wasted two gilt-edged goalscoring opportunities.

The Senegal international should have doubled his tally on 41 minutes when he latched on to Heskey's neat flick-on, but he skewed a left-foot shot wide from 14 yards.

And seconds later he ran onto Kevin Kilbane's through ball, but this time his tame 25-yard strike landed straight into the hands of keeper Foster.

Bouazza's equaliser sparked a Watford fightback

Boothroyd's half-time team talk clearly had its desired effect as Watford began the second half in complete contrast to the first.

The visitors increased the urgency in midfield and pegged Wigan back in their own half, with Marlon King in particular posing problems up front.

A brilliant fingertip saw Kirkland turning King's superb 25-yard left-foot drive on the turn on to his post on 52 minutes, much to the striker's astonishment.

But the visitors earned a deserved equaliser when Bouazza's free-kick found its way past England international Kirkland on 63 minutes.

The Wigan wall expected a strike from Ashley Young, but the ball rolled into the path of Bouazza, who drilled his powerful strike into the bottom left corner of Kirkland's goal.

The equaliser opened the game up as both teams pushed forward in an effort to find a winner.

Heskey went close with a powerful header on 66 minutes, but his effort inched over Foster's crossbar.

And seconds later Young should have put Watford in the lead with a free header, but the midfielder failed to connect with Bouazza's well-flighted cross.

Paul Scharner could have sealed glory for Wigan in the dying minutes, but his shot from Leighton Baines' cross flew well over the crossbar.

---

Wigan assistant manager Chris Hutchings:
"It should have been over by half-time.

"They don't come any better than the two Henri had after he had scored the opener.

"They were clear-cut chances, and we expect him to put those away at this level.

"He could have had three and that would have wrapped up the points for us. It didn't, and overall we are not too pleased with our performance."

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd:
"The first half was very very average from our point of view, in fact I would say it was unacceptable.

"At least in the second half we showed what we are all about, and it's not inconceivable that we could have come away with all three points."

---

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, De Zeeuw, Hall, Baines, Valencia (Teale 54), Landzaat, Scharner, Kilbane, Heskey, Camara.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Jackson, Johansson, Todorov.

Booked: Valencia, Camara.

Goals: Camara 29.

Watford: Foster, DeMerit, Mackay, Shittu, Stewart, Smith (Henderson 72), Mahon, Francis, Young, King, Bouazza (Spring 84).
Subs Not Used: Lee, Doyley, McNamee.

Booked: Mackay, Mahon.

Goals: Bouazza 63.

Att: 16,359

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).