Edwards urges Luton stars to feed off ‘raucous’ Hatters fans in Watford derby

Rob Edwards believes his pre-match message to Luton’s players will be made easier due to the noise he expects will greet them inside Kenilworth Road for the first home Watford derby with fans present in 17 years.

Though the Luton boss was in neither dugout the last time the two arch-rivals clashed, due to the Hornets sacking him after 11 games, there will be plenty of scores to settle for Town who were drubbed 4-0 at Vicarage Road in October. 

That was the Hatters heaviest defeat of the season, not helped by a sickness bug that swept through the squad and Southampton’s interest in previous Town boss Nathan Jones. 

At Kenilworth Road, Luton beat Watford 1-0 two seasons ago, but that was inside an empty stadium due to the coronavirus restrictions of crowds, so Hatters fans have waited a very long time to host their neighbours from down the M1. 

Asked if he’ll give a final inspirational message to his players before kick-off, Edwards, who has enjoyed a strong rapport with Hatters fans, said: “We always have a final message. That’ll be no different, but I’m expecting that to be a little bit easier this time. 

“Our supporters have obviously been incredible since we’ve come in, at home and away, but I’m expecting this one to be a bit livelier than any other game that we’ve had so far. 

“So, I’m expecting that when the lads warm-up, for it to be loud and pretty raucous then, so I think the lads will feel that it’s a little bit different when they’re out there, even in the warm-up. Our supporters can help with the rallying call, before the game.”

He added: “The bottom line is we need to make sure they’re giving us that same reception when we’re going in, back up the tunnel, so that’s been our line this week.

“We know that they’re going to be behind us from the start, in the warm-up and as the lads come out, as we all come out, there as loud as possible, brilliant.

“And throughout the game, obviously that’s down to us to help with the atmosphere, our job is to make sure they’re cheering us and clapping us when we go in.

“Our supporters have  been incredible for us, they’ve been really with us, 2-0 down against Millwall, they helped us fight back.

“They helped us get over the line in games where we’ve been 1-0 up and it’s been tight and no doubt we’re going to need them again.

“It’s not like I’m going to have to encourage that on the weekend at all, we’re in a fantastic position in the league, 

“It’s our biggest game, it’s the one that all our supporters look for first and it’s the first time we’re going to be playing in front of our supporters in this game in 17 years.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to have a great day but it’s down to us to work extremely hard, respect them, because they’ve got very good players, Chris Wilder’s a really good coach, very experienced manager, so we know how difficult it’s going to be. But we hope it’s going to be a really good day for us.
“It’s one that it will be new for a few of us. Some of the lads that have played them a couple of years ago, a win here, but in front of no fans, so it will be new for a lot of the lads.

”We want to make sure it’s an occasion we can really enjoy, but again that’s down to us and how we perform.”