It is derby day at Kenilworth Road in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday as Luton Town host local rivals Watford FC, for what will be a fiercely contested game.
Rob Edwards’ Hatters will hope to return from the international break in positive form following defeat at Sheffield United a fortnight ago.
Tom Cleverley’s Hornets currently occupy the final Championship play-off spot after taking five wins from the opening nine matches.
The opposition
Watford have found home comforts so far this season, winning all but one of their games at Vicarage Road this season.
In their last game, the Hornets came from behind with goals in the 75th and 87th minute, to beat Middlesbrough.
The visitors have not been as lethal on the road, they have lost four of their five games away from Hertfordshire this season.
Last time we met
It was a derby day to remember when Watford last visited Kenilworth Road, with the home fans witnessing the derby in-person for the first time since 2006.
Gabe Osho opened the scoring as a lovely team move was finished off with a low sweeping finish to give us a one-goal lead at half-time.
The three points were wrapped up when Allan Campbell poked home in stoppage time, as we made it two wins from two at home against the Hornets.
Team news
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Meanwhile, Teden Mengi, Reuell Walters and Mark McGuinness all picked up knocks while away with England and the Republic of Ireland.
Amari’i Bell, Mads Andersen and the suspended Liam Walsh, who serves the second match of a three-game ban, remain unavailable.
Officials
The referee for this fixture will be Stephen Martin.
34 yellow cards and no red cards have been handed out by Martin across his five games this season.
Ahead of the international break, Stephen Martin refereed the Championship fixture between Norwich City and Leeds United, where he handed out seven yellow cards.
Our last game officiated by Martin was a 4-0 home win against Preston North End back in March 2022.
Referee: Stephen Martin
Assistant Referees: Mark Dwyer & Carl Fitch-Jackson
Fourth Official: Declan Bourne
Oak Road closure
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Love Football. Protect The Game.
Luton Town Football Club has committed in its customer charter to providing safe match-day experiences for all supporters regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation, and this applies equally to home and away fixtures.
In the event that any Luton supporters do make discriminatory chants, the Club will work with the police and football authorities to help identify such individuals. Any such fans would then face the strictest club sanctions, including football banning orders that would prevent them attending any matches, in addition to any criminal charges.
Furthermore, we would like to warn against pitch incursions and the use of pyrotechnics or missiles – which could lead to potential prosecution.
The Club can also be held responsible for the behaviour of its supporters, which could lead to substantial fines being imposed.
As a diverse and inclusive football club, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow EFL clubs in supporting the FA’s ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ campaign and call on all fans to enjoy the game in a positive spirit.
If you are offended by any discriminatory abuse of any kind at any of our games, you can report it by clicking HERE, or by contacting your nearest steward immediately.
Alternatively, email [email protected] or report the incident via Kick it Out's free, confidential reporting app on the App Store and Google Play.
We're all Luton.
