WATFORD'S clash with Wigan was called off 11 minutes into the second half after torrential rain at Vicarage Road. With the score at 1-1 and with conditions become increasingly difficult, referee Steve Tanner first sent the players to the dressing rooms before ending the game altogether.

During the 56 minutes that were possible, Emile Heskey gave Wigan the lead in the 23rd minute. Kevin Kilbane crossed from the left, and Heskey held off Dan Shittu too easily before turning and firing low into the bottomright corner from 12 yards.

Tamas Priskin levelled with his first league goal for Watford in the 44th minute against the run of play, Priskin's header from Stewart's left-wing cross just beating Kirkland's dive.

But the rain, which had persisted throughout the first half, began to fall considerably harder at the start of the second half, making it extremely difficult for the players to keep their balance or judge their passes. A new date for the fixture will be found in the new year.