PREVIEW: Watford v Luton Town

A new season at Watford predictably brought a new head coach with Vladimir Ivić installed in the hotseat before a ball was kicked.

Ivic was named as replacement to Nigel Pearson, who was sacked with the club still in the Premier League last term, the Hornets eventually falling through the trapdoor though after a final day 3-2 defeat at Arsenal.

The Serbian, who signed a year's contract, is now Watford's seventh manager appointed since Nathan Jones took over for his first spell at Kenilworth Road back in January 2016.

In place at the time was Quique Sánchez Flores, who lasted a year from June 2015 to June 2016, with Walter Mazzarri also completing just the one season.

Marco Silva was in charge for six months, as Javia Gracia then became one of the Hornets' lengthier appointments, serving 18 months at the club.

Flores returned for a second spell, lasting a mere three months, with Hayden Mullins in charge for one game, before Pearson looked to have settled things down, when he joined in December 2019.

However he left with two matches to go last season, with Mullins taking charge once more, unable to halt the club sliding into the Championship.

That saw Ivic came in in August, charged with trying to regain a place in the top flight at the first attempt, while the Hornets also named Cristiano Giaretta as their new sporting director, a role he had at CSKA Sofia, Novara, Udinese and Ascoli.

Ivic made a good start to life Watford's first time back in the Championship since the 2014-15 campaign, beating Middlesbrough 1-0 on the opening day and then earning a 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

They also saw off Oxford on penalties in the Carabao Cup, only to go out 3-1 at the hands of League Two Newport County in the third round on Tuesday night.

There was understandably some departures over the summer as the club now have to cut their cloth accordingly in the second tier, with Abdoulaye Doucoure heading to Everton for £20m and Pervis Estupinan joining Villarreal for £15m.

Jose Holebas went to Olympiakos and Dimitri Foulquier headed to Granada, while Adrian Mariappa was released, along with popular and experienced goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Ivic's plans were also hit by two of his squad stating they didn't want to play for the club anymore, Étienne Capoue and Roberto Pereyra both handing in transfer requests as they hunt moves away.

So far, the Hornets have made a number of new additions, Jeremy Ngakia from West Ham, plus Italian duo Franciso Sierralta (Parma) and Stipe Perica (Udinese) joining.

They have also used the loan market, with Brighton forward Glenn Murray and Manchester United youngster James Garner on board.

With the clubs not having met since April 2006, Hornets keeper Ben Foster is the only member of both squads to have played in that match.

He told the club's official website: “You could sense the atmosphere and how much it meant to the fans.

“You can see it written on their faces, it's going to be a lot different on Saturday without the fans, but we've got to give it everything we've got and recapture the feeling of playing in front of the fans.

“You've got to raise your levels for this one.

"Experienced players like myself, Craig Cathcart and Tom Cleverley need to pass that onto the younger players and tell them how much it means to the fans and the club as whole.

“Someone like Domingos Quina won't know what it's about so we need to show them, we need to tell them.

"We need to let them know this is a big deal.”

On his venture to Bedfordshire, he added: “It was a scrappy game and Kenilworth Road is a tricky place to go.

“The pitch wasn't great and the fans are so close.

"They are right on top of you and you can hear everything they say. Some of the abuse I was getting wasn't too kind, but I'm used to that by now.

“It's going to be a different atmosphere with no fans and you've got to create your own buzz, your own energy.”

Team news: Luton are expected to be without James Bree for the clash this weekend, after he suffered a knee injury against Derby on Saturday.

Dan Potts is still taking time to recover from his foot injury, while both Eunan O'Kane and Brendan Galloway remain absent.

For the Hornets, club captain Troy Deeney and Ismaïla Sarr are both now in contention, but Andre Gray (hamstring), Gerard Deulofeu (knee), Will Hughes and Danny Welbeck are out.

Longer-term absentees include Daryl Janmaat (knee), Isaac Success (Achilles) and Adam Masina.

Top scorers: Hatters: James Collins (4). Hornets: Craig Cathcart, Ken Sema, Adalberto Penaranda (1).

Milestones: Midfielder Pelly-Ruddock will make his 200th league start for the Hatters if selected on Saturday.

Major honours: Luton (2) - Littlewoods Cup 1988; Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2009. Watford: None.

Man in the middle: John Brooks - has taken three games this term, showing 10 yellow cards.

Officiated four Luton matches last season the 1-1 draws with Preston and Leeds after lockdown, plus the 3-2 defeat at Fulham and 2-1 home reverse against Leeds.

Had 33 games in total, with 124 yellows and one red, including 10 cautions in the Huddersfield v West Brom match.

Previously took Luton's 1-1 League Two draw at Cambridge in March 2018, sending off James Collins for two bookings and the 3-0 win over Hartlepool in February 2017.

Referee's assistants are Akil Howson and Nick Greenhalgh, with the fourth official George Byrne.

In charge: Vladimir Ivić – 43-year-old Serbian, who started playing days in his home country with Proleter Zrenjanin in the 1994–95 campaign.

Also played for Partizan, joining Borussia Mönchengladbach in July 2004, before moving to Greece, representing AEK Athens, Aris Thessaloniki and PAOK, winning eight caps for Serbia and Montenegro too.

Turned his hand to coaching in June 2013, working with PAOK's U20s, leading the side to the league title.

Appointed manager of PAOK in March 2016, winning the Greek Cup in May 2017, taking charge of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in May 2018.

Won the National Championship in his first two seasons and then was appointed as head coach of Watford on a one-year contract in August.

View from the opposition: Vladimir Ivic speaking to the club's official website: “I know how important it is for the fans, I have had this kind of game in my past and I know how important it is to win, to prove you are the best, and we will fight for this.

“I know about the traditions of the club, about what type of game this is, all of us know, me, the players and everybody here.

"This is a game for three points, and we need to work hard, how we work in all other games before and all other games which will be after.

“I understand that it’s different for the fans, a different feeling for them after the game.

"If they win, they will be proud, and we will give our best for sure to make our fans happy and proud.”

One to watch: Nathaniel Chalobah – 25-year-old midfielder had been at Fulham, before moving to join Chelsea's academy at the age of 10.

Captained the Blues reserve and youth teams, winning the 2012 FA Youth Cup, turning pro at Stamford Bridge in January 2012.

Headed to Watford on loan in August 2012 and then had similar spells with Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough, Burnley, Reading and Napoli.

Only made 15 appearances for Chelsea though, joining Watford permanently for an undisclosed fee in July 2017, but injury has restricted him just 48 appearances and one goal so far.

Played for England at all ages through to the first team, making his full debut in October 2018 as a substitute in the 3-2 Nations League win in Spain.

Friendly faces: Andre Gray - Started out at Wolves, moving to Shrewsbury Town, before being released and dropping down to non-league Hinckley United.

Impressed against Luton in the FA Trophy, snapped up by then boss Gary Brabin for £30,000 in March 2012.

Had a superb time at Kenilworth Road, scoring 57 goals in 111 games, including 30 in the 2013-14 season as Luton won promotion to the Football League.

Joined Brentford for £500k in June 2014, scoring 20 goals that term, leading to a move to Burnley for £9m in which Town profited handsomely from a sell on clause.

Managed 33 goals in 78 matches for the Clarets, heading to Watford in August 2017 for £11.5m, netting 16 goals in 94 games for the Hornets so far

Played for both: Matt Spring - came through the ranks at Luton, making his debut in September 1997 against Bristol City.

Played over 250 games in his first spell, joining Leeds United in 2004, but didn't have a successful time at Elland Road.

Headed to Watford for £150,000 in the summer of 2005, spending two seasons at Vicarage Road, helping the Hornets to the Premier League, where he made six top flight appearances.

Went back to Luton for £200,000 in January 2007, as he had another two years at Kenilworth Road, leaving for Charlton in January 2009 after playing 357 times and scoring 43 goals for the Hatters overall, to sit 12th in the club's all-time appearance list.

Spells with Leyton Orient, Wycombe, St Neots Town and Hemel Hempstead followed, as he was also on the coaching staff at Hitchin Town for a while.

We've got form: Luton have had a long history at their main rivals, starting with an FA Cup replay back in November 2, 1898, a 1-0 success that saw Hugh Galbraith net the winner.

They then were involved in Southern League and United League clashes up until 1921 when Football League matches started with a Division Three contest that saw Town beaten 1-0.

That was part of a 10 game winless run for Luton, as it took them until 1929 for a first league victory, a handsome one at that, 4-0, Andy Rennie netting a treble.

Luton had a mixed run afterwards, but in the 1970s, early 1980s, started to enjoy some real form, with four wins and a draw from seven games, three 1-0 triumphs thanks to Mike Keen, Kirk Stephens and Steve White winners, while Brian Stein and Frankie notched in a 2-1 win.

There were some memorable visits in recent years too, Matthew Spring scoring an absolute stunner during a 2-1 League success back in September 2002.

Recently, Luton have been on top, with a seven game unbeaten run, two wins and five draws, their last defeat back in August 1993, losing 2-1 in the Anglo-Italian Cup.

In fact if you focus solely on league fixtures, it's even more impressive, Town on an eight game run without losing spanning over 30 years, since a Division One contest in April 1987.

Overall, the Hornets do have the edge though, Luton winning 19 meetings and losing 27 with 15 draws, scoring 74 and conceding 91.

Last time out: Luton picked up a 1-1 draw on their last trip to Vicarage Road in their Championship clash on April 9, 2006.

Marlon King scored for the hosts on 36 minutes but Ahmet Brkovic finished well from close range with 17 to go to earn a share of the spoils for the Hatters.

Hatters: Marlon Beresford, Kevin Foley (Dean Morgan 90), Sol Davis (Leon Barnett 17), Russell Perrett, Markus Heikkinen, Steve Robinson, Carlos Edwards, Ahmet Brkovic, Steve Howard, Enoch Showunmi, Warren Feeney (Rowan Vine 68).

Subs not used: Dean Brill, Peter Holmes.

Referee: Mike Dean.

Attendance: 15,922.