Match Preview | Watford (H)

31 March 2023

It is derby day in Bedfordshire this weekend as Luton Town host Watford at Kenilworth Road in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Hatters will look to pick up where they left off before the international break after an unbeaten March, while Watford will look to attack the play-off places under new manager Chris Wilder.

Rob Edwards said:

(Click HERE to watch Rob’s pre-match press conference in full)

"We always have a final message. That’ll be no different, but I’m expecting that to be a little bit easier this time," said Edwards. "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.

"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 rally call before the game anyway."

The opposition:

Watford are currently sitting in 10^th place in the Sky Bet Championship and Saturday’s game will mark Wilder’s fourth game in charge of the Hornets.

The visitors responded well to their defeat at QPR with an emphatic victory over Birmingham City, before sharing the points with bottom-side Wigan Athletic going into the break.

Striker Keinan Davis, currently on loan from Aston Villa, has scored twice in his last two games and scored in the reverse fixture back in October.

João Pedro’s return from injury has come at a good time for the Hornets, they have lost just two games since his comeback at the start of February.

Last time we met at Kenilworth Road:

Luton Town took all three points in the first derby at Kenilworth Road since 2006.

James Collins came off the bench and scored a penalty with his first touch of the game as the Hatters beat the Hornets behind-closed-doors.

Ticket information:

This fixture is completely sold out. Thank you for your continued support!

For information on the closure of Oak Road, click HERE.

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The officials:

Referee: Josh Smith

Assistant Referees: Matthew Jones and Akil Howson

Fourth Official: Lee Swabey

The man in the middle at Kenilworth Road will be Josh Smith.

He last refereed the Hatters in our 1-1 draw at Preston North End in February.

Smith has taken charge of 25 games this season – 22 of which were in the Championship – handing out 111 yellow cards and 4 red cards.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report | Luton Town 2-0 Watford

1 April 2023

It was derby day delight for Luton Town as they recorded a 2-0 victory over local rivals Watford and stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches in the Sky Bet Championship.

Gabe Osho avenged his red card in the reverse fixture with a close range finish and Allan Campbell poked home a second as the game crept into added time with the two decisive moments to write their names into the Luton history books in the first derby fixture at Kenilworth Road in front of supporters since 2006.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu – who suffered a knee injury during the match against Sheffield United last month and consequently missed the following two games – was the surprise return for the Hatters, the only change in the starting line-up from the 1-1 draw against Sunderland prior to the international break.

The Hatters were quick to find their feet after the two-week break and took the game to their rivals in-front of a noisy sold-out Kenilworth Road crowd, though chances were few and far between until the 20^th minute.

The first effort on goal came after a period of sustained pressure from Rob Edwards’ side and it fell to Campbell, but he was denied by the onrushing Daniel Bachmann who prevented the opener with a superb stop inside the area.

Eight minutes later though, Luton weren’t to be denied as Osho scored his second goal of the season. Cody Drameh was composed and found Mpanzu on the right-hand-side of the penalty area, who played the ball across the 18-yard box towards Osho, who in turn swept the ball into the bottom corner.

Top scorer Carlton Morris had an opportunity to double Town’s advantage minutes before half-time but his left-footed effort from outside the area was beaten away by the Watford keeper.

The away side had a chance shortly into the second period when Jeremy Ngakia headed just past the post and they grew into the contest as they increased the pressure on the Luton defence.

The Hatters, however, regained control after the hour mark and Bachmann once more was on hand to keep the score at one-nil. Alfie Doughty’s cross went through a number of bodies and dropped to Elijah Adebayo in space on the right of the penalty box. With a touch out of his feet, Adebayo aimed low towards the corner but once more the Watford number one was equal to it.

Town’s number 11 went close again with 10 minutes remaining but his shot was held well, before the returning Mpanzu was then denied by a flying Craig Cathcart block with an effort that looked destined to find the back of the net.

To a man, Edwards’ Hatters were relentless from the first minute right through till the end, best displayed by Marvelous Nakamba’s tenacious energy in the closing stages to win possession back and launch an attack.

It was such pressure that led to the second goal as Campbell squeezed the ball into the net from close range in the 90^th minute as the Hatters extended their unbeaten run to seven games and moved level on points with third place Middlesbrough ahead of a trip to Millwall on Good Friday.

Luton Town: Horvath; Drameh, Lockyer (C), Osho, Bell, Doughty; Campbell, Nakamba, Mpanzu; Morris (Woodrow 90'), Adebayo.

Subs not used: Shea, Bradley, Berry, Lansbury, Burke, Taylor

Goals: Osho (28’), Campbell (90’)

Watford: Bachmann; Porteous, Cathcart (C), Hoedt (Sarr 65’); Ngakia (Ferreira 65’), Louza, Choudhury, Kone (Asprilla 77’), Sema; Pedro, Davis (Assombalonga 67’).

Subs not used: Hamer, Bacuna, Kabasele.

Yellows: Pedro, Choudhury

Referee: Josh Smith

Attendance: 10,046