But if Wigan's players were happy at keeping a clean sheet they were soon brought to book by an after-match roasting from manager Paul Jewell.
Watford asked most of the questions and although they have dropped five points from two successive home games, they did everything but score against Wigan.
They should have been ahead after six minutes when Danny Webber slipped the ball to a Gavin Mahon only for the midfielder to beat the keeper with his shot but see it bounce back off the post.
Brynjar Gunnarsson shot well wide of the target when presented with another chance and it was not until the 22nd minute that Watford keeper Richard Lee was brought into action, pushing away a shot from Nathan Ellington.
Watford had another great chance when their star player, Neal Ardley, played in the free-scoring Webber, who then fired straight at keeper John Filan.
Watford stepped up the pressure after the break with Heidar Helguson twice going close before Lee pulled off a superb save to palm away an Ellington header.
Again Watford squandered a gilt-edged chance when Neil Cox rose but headed powerfully wide, before probably the best chance of the night fell to youngster Ashley Young, who spooned the ball over the bar from an Ardley corner after 81 min.
Lee made a final save to deny a shot from Ellington and Ardley went close with a late free-kick.