Edwards urges fans to be ‘wild’ and top Watford noise for Sunderland second leg

Rob Edwards has called on Luton fans to be ‘wild’ and even louder than the Watford derby for the must-win play-off second leg against Sunderland tomorrow night – even urging them to be in the stands and noisy well before kick-off. 

Kenilworth Road was at fever pitch last month for the first derby in front of fans at the old stadium for 16 years. The cacophonous noise helped the Hatters to a memorable 2-0 win over their arch-rivals, a showing that Edwards says was the best since he’s been at the club. 

Now, he’s called on fans to better that day for the visit of Sunderland as Town know that only a victory on the night will see them overturn the 2-1 first-leg deficit and into the Championship showpiece at Wembley. 

Asked if he could hear the derby day ferocity from inside the stadium, Edwards said: “I did hear in the changing room and in my office beforehand. It was great. If they (fans) want to get in earlier and get the atmosphere going when the players are warming up (before Sunderland), or before that, then great. 

“I don’t see any harm in that at all. I just want to encourage everyone to make sure that everything’s in the right spirits. 

“It’s a game of football, but get right behind the lads. Anything they can do to help our team win, by being loud and making that atmosphere right, then do it. 

“The Watford one was the one to go off, no doubt about it. It was the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at Kenilworth Road, and if we can better that, then that’ll be great, but that will be down to our performance as well.

“I’m well aware of that. The performance against Watford was very good. We’ve got to make sure that we’re at it.”

And the manager, who suffered his first defeat in 15 games when Town lost at the weekend, wants the home fans to get carried away by the evening.

“I’m not sure there’s anything wrong with getting swept away in a really unbelievable atmosphere and occasion. Why not?” he said.

“Let’s let it carry us and help us, so we’ve got to use that, as want the crowd to be wild and we want the crowd to be right at it, theirs (Sunderland) was on the weekend, it was a really brilliant atmosphere.

“I’m not sure, I know they have a lot of fans and they turn out in their numbers, but I’m not sure if it’s been that good for a long, long time, but we’ve got to make it really, really difficult for them.

“We need the crowd to play their past as well, we want to then make sure we play our part, and give our fans something to shout about.”