Wigan Athletic 1 Watford 1

Henri Camara put his injury problems behind him firing Wigan into the lead to open his account for the season. But it was not enough to give Paul Jewell's side maximum points. Wigan's top Premiership scorer last year with 12 goals, Camara's start to the new campaign has been hampered by a niggling thigh injury. But he failed to cash in on two other chances before half time and with the Latics failing to build on his early strike, it was no surprise when Watford grabbed the equaliser through 21 year old French star Hameur Bouazza.

After making modest starts to the campaign, both sides were looking to get their season into gear with Watford still looking for their first win since promotion. Adrian Boothroyd had made his priorities clear when he played a virtual reserve team in the penalty shoot out Carling cup win over Accrington in midweek. But it was back to business with the return of his first choice men. Similarly Wigan too had a more familiar look after making half a dozen changes in their line-up when they were knocked out of the League cup by Crewe.

Bulgarian striker Svetoslav Todorov, on a season long loan from Portsmouth, was on the bench as Wigan named a full strength side with the exception of Lee McCulloch, still out with a knee injury.

Wigan were first to show, Kevin Kilbane forcing Ben Foster to scamper across goal to keep out a free kick. But there was a scare for the Latics when Arjan de Zeeuw and Leighton Baines both went down in a heap after blocking the shot from Marlon King. Both recovered after treatment.

A giant clearance from Chris Kirkland caused panic in the Watford box but Foster enjoyed the luck of the bounce after being challenged by Emile Heskey. Wigan were looking to use the pace of Heskey and Henri Camara to open up the Hornets' defence, but three times they were foiled by an offside flag.

Watford too were also being frustrated by Wigan's offside trap but Ashley Young, Tommy Smith and King were keeping the home defence busy.

Kilbane on his JJB debut set up another attack with a sweeping crossfield ball to Antonio Valencia, but the Ecuador World Cup star failed to make the best of the opportunity.

Wigan took the lead when Camara seized on a back header from Malky Mackay to slot past Foster. The offside flag went up but ref Rob Styles over-ruled his assistant and gave the goal the thumbs up.

Camara had a great chance to hit his second courtesy of a Heskey flick but he dragged the left foot shot wide of the target. He then went racing clear to latch onto Kilbane's long ball but Foster was on red alert to deal with the shot.

Watford went agonisingly close to levelling it when King rattled in a fierce shot on the turn from about 20 yards out. Keeper Chris Kirkland appeared to get the slightest ouch, and the shot hit the right hand post, and re-bounded safely into the grateful arms of the Wigan stopper.

Wigan escaped again when Young headed over the bar from King's cross. But Watford were not to be denied, and grabbed the equaliser when Paris born Bouazza beat Kirkland from just outside the area with a well worked free kick. Heskey had a chance to restore Wigan's advantage but put a header over the bar from eight yards, and Jay Demerit suffered a similar fate at the other end.

A free kick offered Wigan another chance but Kilbane could not find the finish to beat Foster from long range.

Golden Boys man of the match: Hameur Bouazza, saved Watford with a terrific free-kick.