This weekend sees the latest chapter in a huge local rivalry as Watford host Luton Town in the Championship at 12:00 GMT on Sunday.

BBC Three Counties Radio hosted a special Friday night programme from Vicarage Road with all the build-up. You can watch it back here.

Presenter Luke Ashmead was joined by former Watford midfielder Derek Payne, sports journalist and Watford fan Tom Bodell, Kevin Harper from the Luton Town Supporters' Trust and Luton YouTuber Tom Degnan.

George Litchfield
BBC Three Counties Radio

Image source, Getty Images

Watford started the season as one of the favourites to go down, but manager Tom Cleverley was always defiant that his side wouldn't merely be battling to stay in the Championship.

A strong start saw the Hornets eventually move into the top six by the end of November, but a rocky patch of form from Christmas onwards has led to speculation around the future of the 35-year-old.

It was no-win-in-six heading into last weekend’s tough tie away to Middlesbrough, but the Hornets managed an impressive 1-0 victory in Teeside.

Cleverley will be desperate to avenge the 3-0 defeat at Kenilworth Road back in October, and get his side back on track in what has arguably been an impressive first full season in management.

Hornets’ fans enjoy a strong relationship with their manager, and that will only be strengthened if they can get a positive result at Vicarage Road against a Luton Town side who are in real trouble.

George Litchfield
BBC Three Counties Radio

Image source, Getty Images

Not many Luton Town fans would have expected after their fairytale promotion in May 2023, that they would be in the midst of a real survival fight in the Championship less than two years later.

A big defeat at home to Burnley on the opening day set the tone for the Hatters, an early warning sign of how tough the league can be.

It seemed Luton had turned a corner with a brilliant display that saw them beat Watford 3-0 at Kenilworth Road, but this proved to be a false dawn.

The man who got the Hatters back to the top division, Rob Edwards, was sacked in January after a 2-1 defeat to Queen’s Park Rangers.

His replacement? Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield, who was enjoying a spectacular season with his side in League One, but opted for the switch to Bedfordshire.

No win so far under 41-year-old Bloomfield, but the Hatters put in a promising performance against Sheffield United despite losing, and arguably should've come away with more than a point on Wednesday night against Plymouth.

At this stage in the season though it's points, not performances that matter to Luton Town. They'll certainly hope they can take something from the Hornets on Sunday.

The Hornets ended a run of five games without a win in the Championship (D1 L4) with a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough last time out and are three points off the play-off spots.

The Hatters, who are two points from safety, haven't won any of their past 11 matches (D3 L8) and are still seeking a first win under new boss Matt Bloomfield.

• After losing 3-0 in the reverse fixture, Watford will be looking to avoid being on the receiving end of a league double from Luton Town for the first time since the 1987-88 season
• Luton Town have won their last two league games against Watford without conceding, the Hatters haven't won three in succession without conceding since November 1980
• Watford have lost each of their past five home league matches, having won 10 of their 12 at Vicarage Road beforehand. The Hornets last had a longer losing run between December 2021 and April 2022 (11) in the Premier League, while outside the top-flight they last lost six in a row between August and October 1990
• Luton Town have won just one of their past 26 away league games (D5 L20), losing 12 of their past 13 on the road (D1) since winning 1-0 at Millwall in September
• Moussa Sissoko scored Watford's goal in their 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough. At the age of 35 years and 183 days, only Marco Cassetti (36y 300d vs Blackburn in March 2014) has scored for the Hornets at an older age in the Championship since 2004-05