Wigan Athletic's results are the first ones Ben Watson looks for on a match-day and the Latics' FA Cup hero is looking forward to finally having the chance to say goodbye tonight.

Watson spent six years with Wigan and wrote his name in the club’s history books with an FA Cup final goal which secured a shock victory over Manchester City in 2013.

But the 29-year-old did not have the chance to wish those at the club and their supporters a fond farewell when he departed due to the speed of the negotiations with Watford in January.

"It is a game I’ve been looking forward to since I signed here. I had six years there so hopefully it will be a good night," Watson said yesterday afternoon.

"I still speak to a number of people at the club. It will be nice because I didn't get to say goodbye properly when I left because it all happened so quick so it will be nice to see a few old faces and wish everyone the best."

Watson experienced the highs and lows of professional football at Wigan. The torment of relegation and two leg breaks were offset by doing what very few are fortunate enough to; scoring an FA Cup winning goal at Wembley.

Tonight's game between Wigan and Watford will be the first time Watson has returned to the DW Stadium. One suspects the midfielder will receive a warm welcome from the home crowd but he isn't taking that for granted.

Watson said: "I hope I get a good reception but you never know in football. We ended on good terms and I had some good times there. The fans stuck by me through thick and thin, obviously with my injuries, so I hope I’ll get a good reception."

Wigan's 2-1 win over Rotherham United on Saturday was huge for the club. Defeat would have left them nine points below Fulham and 12 off Rotherham. Instead Jermaine Pennant's two free-kick's moved the Latics within six points of safety with nine games to play.

"If they lost that it could have been curtains [to Wigan's survival hopes]," Watson said. "They have clawed it back though and are only six points off safety now.

"Other than tomorrow night I want them to win as many games as they can and it is the first result I look out for on a Saturday.

"Hopefully they can stay up - but hopefully tomorrow night they lose," Watson said with a wry smile.

Watson only had six months left on his Wigan contract when all parties agreed a switch to Watford for an 'undisclosed fee' would be ideal.

The Latics are managed by former Watford player, coach and boss Malky Mackay. Watson confirmed after the switch in January that he "got on great" with the Scot and added "I don’t have a bad word to say about him".

Mackay confirmed at the time that it was good for the club financially to allow the ex-Crystal Palace man to leave and highlighted the player's contract running down and a return south as other factors.

Watford Observer:

Since Watson's arrival it has been a great time for him personally and the club as a whole. The Hornets have moved into the automatic places and only goal difference is keeping them off top, meanwhile the midfielder's initial contract until the end of the season has been replaced with a two-year deal, with the option of a third year.

Watson said: "My wife and kids were up in Manchester so it (the move to Watford) wasn't just about coming back near London, it was the league position. Watford were sitting sixth in the league and only a certain amount of points below the top two so it was a great opportunity to go in and if the team continued to do well then you would have had a great chance of securing promotion."

That has subsequently turned out to be the case, which means tonight's game is crucial for both Watson's former employers and his current club.

Watson added: "I have mentioned before that I signed for a team that has quality throughout the squad. A team that plays football in the right way and a team that was in a good position when I signed.

"Since then we have just carried on that run. It has been great and with nine games to go we just have to keep doing what we are doing and take every match as it comes.

"Tomorrow is a massive game for both sides for different reasons. They need to win and we need to win but at different ends of the table. It has the ingredients to be a good one."