Hatters boss will make sure Town's players realise the importance of Hornets trip after watching derby duel during Luton playing days

Town chief Nathan Jones will draw on his own experiences of attending a Luton versus Watford derby clash to ensure his players know just how important their trip to Vicarage Road is this weekend.

The Hatters boss has witnessed the fixture once before, during his playing days at Kenilworth Road, where he spent the 1995-96 campaign after being signed by David Pleat, although didn’t make a first team appearance.

The clash at Vicarage Road finished 1-1, Steve Davis on target for Luton, before the home game, during a tough season was also drawn, 0-0, in front of just under 10,000 at Kenilworth Road.

Jones was present for that encounter, saying: “I was here for the home game, I wasn’t for the away game, but a fantastic atmosphere, that’s where the fans will be missed.

“Saturday there will be an added zip to it because of that but it’s great to have these games.

“It was very competitive, it was a real, real tough game, I remember that.

“The atmosphere was fantastic, I was sat in the stands so I could experience it.

“Nothing stood out in terms of tackles but it was very competitive, they are Luton v Watford games and we have to make sure we realise that.

“What we can’t forget is that we’ve come a long way, there has been a big distance between Watford and Luton in recent years, in terms of league position so it’s great to be allowed these now.

“It shows how far we’ve come and what position we were in and that’s all we can worry about.

“It’s a real shame for the fans because they would have had a wonderful occasion on Tuesday night and then Saturday would have been no different again.”

Jones would have loved to have played himself that day, which is why he expects all of his squad to be absolutely desperate to feature this weekend.

He said: “I would have at the time (wanted to get on), I don’t now because I have officially gone, but look these are the games as a player you wanted to play in.

“I have players that are desperate to play these games and these are games where you want to test yourself because you remember them.

“We said on Tuesday night about really having an opportunity to test yourself and we were going to give Harry Cornick a rest for example and he said ‘I want to play, this is Man United’.

“These are the games we have worked really hard for so we are not going to treat it as one of those games.

“It’s a big game for us, we realise the importance but we have to make sure we’re us and if we’re us, we will be fine.”

Although no member of Town’s squad have ever been involved in such a fixture, scoring the winner could see them achieve legendary status at the club.

When asked if they were aware of that, he “I would imagine so, I know the importance of it.

“My chief exec (Gary Sweet) said this is the most important game but ironically the Blackburn game (final match of last season) was probably more important in terms of reality because without that game going well, we wouldn’t be here.

“Right now it is the next game so it is the most important, it is against our closest rivals so it’s doubly important and I do realise the importance of winning that game but it’s the next game.

“You can’t prepare any differently in terms of structure and what we do, how we go about our work because then that will take away from what we have to do.

“What we have to do is be the best version of ourselves, we realise the importance of a very big Championship derby.”

With Town have a predominantly English-based side, as opposed to the Hornets collection of players from all nationality's, Jones thinks his team could understand the importance of the contest a little more than their rivals.

He said: “Will ours be more aware? Yes. Probably because of history.

“If there’s an Italian playing for Watford, he would know more about Italian history than us, so it’s common sense really.

“This group wants to win a football match and they know the importance.

“They will have high, high motivation, but they’re always motivated to win a game.

“That’s why the group is so good. They’re used to winning games. They have a desire to win games and that won’t be any different.”

The Hatters are run by 2020 as well, a board made up of Luton supporters, while the Hornets owned by Italian businessman Gino Pozzo.

On whether the game meant more to Town’s directors and club officials, Jones added: “We’re all looking forward to this game, it’s a massive game and we’re really excited about it, but these games are week in, week out now.

“The board and Gary are fans and that’s why it means so much to them and that’s why the club has done so well, because we’ve got fans, and sane fans by the way, because fans can be emotional and knee-jerk.

“But to run a business, takes a level of restraint and I think we’ve got a good balance here.

“The fact that they are fans means that they care about the club in every little thing that we do in and around the club.

“Whether it’s painting or orange chairs, whatever it is, it means that we are able to move forward because they are such good fans.

“But, what we have to realise is how far we’ve come, how far we want to go, we’re on that journey and this is another step.”