Chris McCann's equaliser on the stroke of half time has sent Wigan Athletic level with Watford at the break.
Watford made a fast start and took the lead when Ikechi Anya headed the ball across goal and Troy Deeney found the far corner from a tight angle.
Wigan went close early in the match through Roger Espinoza, who spotted Gomes off his line from distance but hit the side-netting.
Anya was proving to be a menace down the left-hand side and he almost set up a second for Deeney but his two crosses were scrambled away by the Wigan defence, before another pull-back just evaded Gianni Munari.
Leon Barnett had a good chance for the visitors but his header flew straight at the keeper, while James McClean forced Gomes into a smart save at his near post.
The visitors' pressure paid off when McCann headed in McClean's corner.
