Malky Mackay signed Troy Deeney for Watford so he knows exactly what the powerhouse striker can do . On Tuesday night , he scored twice against Mackay ’ s Wigan for the second time this season to send Watford top of the Championship and a step nearer the Premier League . It was the sixth game in a row that Deeney has been on the scoresheet , muscling in to beat Ali Al-Habsi with a header nine minutes into the second half and then converting a penalty in stoppage time . For Wigan and his old manager , however , the threat of relegation to League One looms large two years after the club dropped out of the top-flight . Watford striker Troy Deeney celebrates scoring against Wigan at the DW Stadium on Tuesday night . Watford forward Matej Vydra ( left ) tussles for the ball with Wigan Athletic 's Emmerson Boyce ( right ) Watford 's Marco Motta ( top ) jumps up to avoid the sliding challenge from Wigan's Kim Bo-Kyung ( bottom ) Wigan ( 4-4-2 ) : Al Habsi 6 ; Boyce 5 , Maguire 6.5 , Pearce 5 , Bong 5.5 ; Pennant 5.5 ( Murphy 52 , 6 ) , Perch 6 , Bo-kyung 6.5 , Ojo 6 ( Kvist 62 , 6 ) ; Fortune 6 ( Sinclair 82 ) , Clarke 5.5 . Booked : Perch . Watford ( 3-1-4-2 ) : Gomes 6 ; Cathcart 6 ( Paredes 71 , 6 ) , Ekstrand 6.5 , Angella 6 ; Watson 6.5 ; Motta 5.5 ( Forestieri 46 , 7 ) , Munari 6 , Hoban 6.5 , Guedioura 8 ; Deeney 7 , Vydra 7 ( Tozser 73 , 6 ) Subs not used : Layun , Anya , Ighalo , Bond . Booked : Guedioura , Forestieri . Scorers : Deeney 54 , 90 . Referee : David Coote . Attendance : 10,684 . They remain six points adrift of safety and fourth-from-bottom Rotherham , who now have a game in hand , after failing to win for the 16th successive home game – a miserable run stretching back seven months . ‘ We ’ ve got eight games to go and we ’ ve got to win more than a couple of teams us , simple as that , ’ said Mackay . ‘ We knew that Deeney would pose a real threat . That ’ s why I bought him ( for Watford ) in the first place . He ’ s blossomed and he ’ s by far and away the best centre-forward in the division in my opinion. ’ Despite the poor home form , Wigan had won their last four away games to give themselves a chance of survival and they had several chances to take the lead . Tommy Hoban had to throw his body in the way of Leon Clarke ’ s goalbound effort , Sheyi Ojo blasted over when unmarked in a good position and Marc-Antoine Fortune had two opportunities . Deeney beats the challenge of Wigan 's Gaetan Bong to score his side 's opening goal at the DW Stadium . Boyce fells Watford's Fernando Forestieri in the box to give away a penalty on a bad night for the hosts . But the promotion chasers went ahead in the 54th minute with a goal that was the product of classy build-up play and a brutal finish . Substitute Fernando Forestieri ’ s clever pass gave Adlene Guedioura the opportunity to swing a cross to the far post where Deeney was charging in like an express train . The Watford skipper powered through Jason Pearce to meet the ball and head the ball emphatically past Al Habsi . Guedioura and Matej Vydra both went close with shots after that , and Guedioura thought he had doubled Watford ’ s lead when his deflected effort beat Al Habsi but Emmerson Boyce hooked the ball away to safety from under his own crossbar . Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi is rooted to the spot as Deeney sends his second goal past him with a penalty . However Deeney made sure of victory in stoppage time , scoring from the penalty spot after Boyce had brought down Forestieri . Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic : ‘ Troy ’ s in a good moment and that ’ s good news for us . His first goal , the way he attacked the ball and scored , was great . ‘ You have to be happy with our situation . The players believe in themselves and in their teammates. ’ Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic ( left ) talks to his Deeney ( centre ) during a break in play at the DW Stadium .
Watford 's win at Troy Deeney sends them top of the Championship . Wigan opened the scoring with a header on 54 minutes . He sealed the three points with a late penalty at the DW Stadium .