Nathan Jones says Luton are “fired up” to face fierce rivals Watford and says that, this time, his men have not had a hectic schedule to contend with, including a cup clash against Manchester United.
Town lost 1-0 to the Hornets in September in the first derby for 14 years, having ran the Premier League giants close in the Carabao Cup days earlier. But the hotly anticipated Championship clash at Vicarage Road proved to be somewhat a subdued affair, with Jones calling his side lacklustre.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s early kick-off (12;30pm) return fixture at Kenilworth Road, Jones said: “The lacklustre thing came about because we’d had Man United in the week and it was a really hectic schedule.
“It’s not that hectic schedule now. We’ve given them a couple of days off, we’ve trained twice this week and given everyone a couple of rest days to get them in and around it.
“We’ll be fired up. It was slightly different earlier on in the season. We’d played Man United in midweek and it was that type of thing so I hope that doesn’t happen again, from both sides.
“I hope it’s a rip-roaring derby, I hope we win and it’s played in great spirits with great competitiveness.
“It’s a wonderful game to look forward to and I think the early kick-off actually helps it. Everyone’s up and about, with no time to think about it, we’re locking horns straight away. I’m looking forward to the game.”
As they were in September, fans will again be shut out of the derby on Saturday due to Covid restrictions, a factor which contributed to the subdued nature of the Vicarage Road clash.
Jones said: “I remember when I was here (as a player), Watford, Luton and I remember the game at the Kenny, and what an atmosphere, the last home one for a while.
“Mick got a hat-trick in a win (in 1986), but it is a massive game and a game that the fans can get behind. The board love these games, we love these games and it’s a real shame there’s no fans as it’s a game the fans really love, and I know they would be talking bout it, but imagine the atmosphere around the place, around the town, and that’s the shame that they can’t be here.
“But it’s still a massive, massive game, it’s a local derby, we’re proud we’re coming up against them. Four or five years ago we were three or four leagues apart, so to be on the same stage as them is wonderful and there’s great history, great rivalry and we’re looking forward to the game.”
While Luton are virtually safe from relegation and indeed looking for a top half of the table finish, Watford are in the automatic promotion places and looking for an instant return to the Premier League.
Victory for Luton could put a spanner in those works, but Jones isn’t focusing on that prospect, even if fans are.
“My motivation isn’t stopping Watford, it’s that we continue to rise,” said Jones, adding: “But we also like playing against Watford, we like the derbies, so if Watford don’t go up and we get two derbies next year, we’d love that.
“But I’m not here to say, I want to just stop Watford going up and that’s the be-all and end-all. No, I want to take Luton forward is my paramount thing, and then secondly, we would love to have these games on a regular basis.
“So, that’s probably our motivation, without being spiteful and thinking we want to stop you doing something. No, we want to progress and concentrate on us at Luton Town and then whatever happens elsewhere, we can’t affect.”
