Watford will be looking to build on their momentum following Tuesday night’s convincing 3-0 win over Birmingham City (March 14), as they prepare to host Wigan Athletic this Saturday (March 18, 3pm KO).

Before the mouth-watering Sky Bet Championship encounter, we take a look at five Hornets who have also featured for the Latics…

A Wigan Athletic hero, Ben Watson joined the Latics in January 2009, helping his side to an 11th-placed finish in the Premier League while contributing with a handful of goals in 10 matches. Despite the positive start to his career at the DW Stadium, Watson made the loan move to Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion during the 2009/10 season, earning promotion with the Baggies from the second-tier.

Upon his return, the midfield general become an important part of the Latics’ foundations, with his time at the club peaking when he scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City in 2013.

After his time at Wigan had concluded, Watson made another winter move, but this time to the Hornets in January 2015. He came in and had a significant influence from the base of midfield, making 19 appearances as he helped Watford to promotion to the top-flight. He would remain at The Vic until 2018, becoming an important member of the squad during his time in yellow.

The striker began his career with the same pace he showed on the pitch – David Connolly’s rise to prominence was exceptional. A serial goalscorer for Watford’s youth team, Connolly was eventually handed his debut by Glenn Roeder in the FA Cup, becoming the Hornets’ youngest player to have featured in the competition at the time.

In just 34 appearances for the club, the forward scored 15 times and he also made a mark on the international stage with a hat-trick during World Cup qualification for the Republic of Ireland. As a result, Connolly made the move to Feyenoord in 1997.

With his exemplary goalscoring record failing to wane, the sprightly striker moved to top-flight side Wigan Athletic in 2005. Although he scored on his debut against West Brom and looked to be a promising asset as the Latics hoped to avoid relegation, Connolly’s season was struck by injuries and he eventually left after just one campaign at the DW Stadium.

Striker Nathan Ellington enjoyed a prolific goalscoring record at Wigan, joining the Latics in 2002 for a then-club-record fee. After an impressive few seasons at the DW Stadium, Ellington saved his best to last. The forward scored 24 times on his way to taking the top goalscorer award in the Championship, helping secure Premier League promotion for Wigan.

Following a spell at West Brom, Ellington made the move to Watford and was a constant fixture in the side during the 2007/08 season under Aidy Boothroyd as the Hornets lost to Hull City in the play-off semi-finals. The following campaigns would see the striker spend most of his time on loan at Derby County, Preston North End and Greek side Xanthi FC, before he left permanently for Ipswich Town in 2011.

A Watford Academy product who was born and raised less than a few miles away from Vicarage Road, Gavin Massey’s association with the club began when he was just nine years old. Years later he made his debut in a 4-0 victory over Coventry City in 2010, and was taken on loan by Wealdstone, Yeovil Town and Colchester United over the next few seasons.

After departing his hometown club due to limited minutes, in 2017 Massey would move to then League One side Wigan. During his first season, he enjoyed an FA Cup run with the Latics, which included a famous victory over Manchester City on the way to the quarter-finals.

After over 150 club appearances and two league titles, Massey’s most important moment for the club arguably came in the form of a brace against Leeds United in 2019 to all-but confirm safety from potential relegation in the second-tier.

Former left-sided midfielder Peter Kennedy is a proud owner of an impressive record, having been promoted with both sides during his spells with the Hornets and the Latics.

The Northern Ireland international began his career in his home country before he moved to Notts County. After a successful spell at Meadow Lane, Kennedy made the jump to Vicarage Road where, in Hertfordshire, the winger played a pivotal role in Watford’s consecutive promotions in the late 1990s and was the top scorer in his first season in yellow.

After over 100 appearances under manager Graham Taylor, Kennedy left in 2001, making his way to Wigan where he featured over 70 times. After a season with the Latics, Kennedy contributed to promotion from the third-tier as Wigan began their ascendancy to the top-flight.