Nathan Jones hopes Luton can increase the worries of Watford fans with a derby day victory, but has urged the travelling Town contingent not to let their emotions get the better of them on their first visit to Vicarage Road for 16 years.
The outlook from either side of the divide couldn’t be more different, as current fortunes place Town as favourites ahead of Sunday’s showdown. That’s thanks to success on the pitch, with a seven-game unbeaten streak, but also positivity off the park.
Eight years ago they were in the non-league and now they continue to defy the odds in the second-tier, where they have one of the lowest budgets and a team largely full of shrewd free transfers, yet currently sit fifth in the Championship.
That has been achieved with owners that are fans, who have steered the ship by living within their means and developing a football culture that is the envy of the Football League.
Watford, however, were relegated out of the Premier League last term and after three defeats in their last four they sit ten places behind Town. And, off the pitch, there is a growing dissent against the club’s owners who earlier this month sacked their 16th manager in ten years, after just ten games. That was despite saying when they signed Rob Edwards in the summer that they’d stick with the former Forest Green Rovers boss come “hell or high water”.
Slavan Bilic is now in charge but all the turmoil at the Hertfordshire club has left their fans concerned about the visit of their in-form neighbours on Sunday lunchtime.
Jones said: “I hope they’re even more worried come two o’clock on Sunday, but we can’t fathom what anyone else is thinking.
“We concentrate on ourselves, we’ve got to a level now where we concentrate on ourselves and that’s the big thing. It’s how can we affect the game, and that’s a good thing for us.
“We’ve come a long way and we’re in the league now and saying, ‘right, how can we affect games?’ and not, ‘how can we contain them?’ and that’s a pleasing thing for a manager.”
Luton currently have the bragging rights after a 1-0 win at Kenilworth Road in April last year, but before that at Vicarage Road, Town lost 1-0 in an empty stadium due to the Covid-restricted season.
But Sunday will be Town fans’ first visit since 2006 and Jones urged Hatters to show the best of their club against their bitter rivals.
Asked what his message to supporters would be, Jones said: “Enjoy the day. I hope that it’s a real fiercely contested derby, with athleticism, aggression and all the right things you want to see on a football pitch.
“Then, hopefully, everyone has a safe journey there and back, and can enjoy the day, because that’s what football’s about.
“It’s a big rivalry, but hopefully it doesn’t boil over into anything. I want them to enjoy the day and let’s show what a real wonderful club that we really are.”
