Rob Edwards expects Mark McGuinness will be feeling “extra heat” when Luton host the defender’s former side Cardiff City tonight.
The defender has endured a tricky start to his Hatters career after signing from the Bluebirds in the summer for a fee understood to be initially in the region of £6million.
McGuinness’ first home game saw him make a mistake that let QPR back into a game that they won having been behind and distinctly second best in.
Town have lost seven times already this term, leaving them nearer the bottom of a Championship they were expected to be promotion challengers.
But victory over Cardiff tonight would see Luton leapfrog the Welsh side, though it won’t be easy as, after a rocky start themselves, the Bluebirds are now top of the form table courtesy of six games unbeaten, including four wins.
“We won’t put anything extra on it for him, but he’ll be feeling that,” said Edwards of McGuinness, adding: “It’s just a big game for us anyway.
“Of course we want to try and perform well, and if we do, that gives you the best chance of winning the game, and I’ll be delighted for Macca if that was the case.
“I’m sure for him he’ll be feeling a little bit a little of extra heat.
“He’ll know the individuals well. He probably hasn’t this week, but I’m sure he’ll have mates in the (Cardiff) camp and I’ve spoken to him over the last few weeks, but he’s here, he’s ours and his full focus will be on what his job has to be, but he’ll certainly know the players better.”
If facing his former employers is anything like playing West Brom on Friday, then McGuinness will have very little defining to do.
Edwards said:“We want to try and have the same kind of impact in the game, try and play in the right area of the pitch like we have done, and obviously score more goals in the opposition, which would help.
“So we do go into it off the back of some consistency now, and that’s what we look to take into (the game). “There’s a good feel around the place, as there always is, the lads have trained really well and we’re looking forward to it now.
“It’s a really good game against a team that’s in form and confident, but we really want to come out on top, if we get it right and we know we can.”
