Watford FC: Tom Cleverley fires warning shot to Rob Edwards ahead of Luton Town clash | OneFootball

This should be an intense early kick-off game between the two rivals on Saturday.

Watford manager Tom Cleverley wants to make Luton Town's start to the new season even worse this weekend and "inflict more pain" on former boss Rob Edwards.

Any derby game is always going to have that extra little bit of needle in it than most other games teams play. The tension between the sets of fans is often reflected on the pitch by a battling affair between the two rival teams, and it should be no different on Saturday when Luton host Watford.

Both sides come into the match in slightly different positions than they may have expected, with the Hatters - a Premier League team last season - down near the relegation zone after nine games, while the Hornets are sitting in the play-off places.

As is always the case with these rivalries, when the teams meet each other at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, all that has come before it will be pretty much irrelevant. As the saying goes, form goes out the window on derby day.

Cleverley is coming up against his old boss Edwards for the first time as a manager this weekend.

He said he respects Edwards and what he's done, but admitted that he hasn't been the slightest bit concerned by how Town have played leading up to the game, although he is aware of it, and Cleverley stated that he wants to "inflict more pain" on Edwards and his Luton side, after their underwhelming start to the season.

"What Luton have done doesn’t concern me much, and I think form goes out of the window in derby games," said Cleverley, via the Watford Observer.

"It’s a unique game and one where we won’t focus on current form.

"Yes, I prefer my team to be going into the game with confidence than lacking it, but it’s not been part of our preparation to focus on their results.

"Rob is someone I have a lot of respect for, though I do want to inflict more pain upon them on Saturday afternoon.

"But he is also someone I really respect."

Cleverley expects a bit of the traditional rough and tumble that comes with derby games on Saturday, but believes that his players will be ready for what ever comes their way.

"This is a chaotic league," the Watford boss added. "I don’t think there will be any game in the 46 that doesn’t have a bit of chaos.

"We’ll be ready and equipped for that, and we are a team playing with confidence that feels like they are on the up. Whatever direction the game takes we’ll be ready, but we want to be the ones imposing ourselves on it.

"If you can impose yourselves on the game more than your opponents by showing good character, then they have to worry about you more than vice-versa.

"Whatever system they use they are a team that will probably stick to a certain set of principles, and we have to adapt to that.

"It’s the same way we prepare for any game. Teams can adjust and you have to adapt to that."

Watford's away form could play into Luton Town's strengths

In any derby game, you want to have the pleasure of being the hosts. Having the majority of attendees in your favour to help rally the troops can be a massive boost, especially to a currently struggling side like Luton.

Another thing that works in their favour by being at home is their opponent's record away from Vicarage Road this season.

Watford have played four away games this season. They have picked up three points (won one and lost three) and have conceded 10 goals, with a goal difference of minus six.

The Hatters haven't exactly been flying on their own turf, as they sit 21st in the home Championship table, having picked up four points from as many games.