In the latest edition of the M1 derby, Watford and Luton Town will lock horns at Vicarage Road in Sunday afternoon's offering of Championship action.
The Hornets recorded a much-needed success over Middlesbrough last time out, whilst the Hatters shared the spoils with fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle.
Match preview
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After a sobering 15th-placed finish in the Championship during the 2023-24 campaign, Watford are now on a mission to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2022, with Sunday's hosts sealing an all-important victory in the second tier last Saturday afternoon.
Following a highly-concerning six-game winless streak in the league, the Hornets managed to secure maximum points at the Riverside Stadium last time out, when a first-half effort from former Tottenham Hotspur man Moussa Sissoko was enough for a triumph.
Despite collecting just four points from their last six matches, Tom Cleverley's side are still occupying a respectable ninth spot in the Championship standings ahead of this weekend's hosting of Luton, four points behind Bristol City in the lowest of the playoff positions.
The Hornets rank seventh in the second tier in terms of home form, although Watford have struggled in front of their own supporters as of late and will be desperate to avoid a sixth straight defeat at Vicarage Road on Sunday afternoon.
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Despite facing the Championship's poorest away side at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday night, Luton Town were unable to get their maiden win under the stewardship of Matt Bloomfield, highlighting the challenges that the ex-Wycombe Wanderers boss faces in Bedfordshire this term.
Following an uneventful first period, it appeared as if the Hatters were on course for a much-needed victory when Jacob Brown found the net off the bench for the hosts, but a first goal in green for Maksym Talovierov restored parity in the contest for the travelling Pilgrims.
Winless across their last 11 second-tier matches - stretching all the way back to December 20 - Luton are rooted firmly to the very bottom of the Championship table after 33 games, two points behind Ruben Selles's Hull City in the relative safety of 21st position.
Enjoying just a single win on the road after 16 attempts in the Championship this campaign, only the aforementioned Plymouth fail to possess a greater away record than the Hatters in the division, with their latest success on the road coming back in September at Millwall.
Team News
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Watford remain without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann, who is expected back at some point in April from an ankle issue.
There are also issues for the Hornets to attend to further up the pitch, with striker Kwadwo Baah on the sidelines because of a thigh problem.
Luton are battling on without a number of their key defenders, including Tom Lockyer, Teden Mengi and Reece Burke owing to their respective fitness issues.
Last featuring for the Hatters on January 6, former Manchester United attacker Tahith Chong is in the medical room of the visitors ahead of Sunday.
Watford possible starting lineup:
Selvik; Andrews, Abankwah, Keben, Larouci; Louza, Dele-Bashiru, Ince, Kayembe, Chakvetadze; Vata
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; McGuinness, Naismith, Bell; Jones, Walsh, Nakamba, Aasgaard, Doughty; Nordas, Brown
We say: Watford 1-0 Luton Town
Winning just one of their 16 outings in the Championship this season, Luton are up against it as they travel down the M1 to Vicarage Road this weekend.
Watford managed a standout success on Teesside last time out and should be confident of repeating the trick against their second-tier rivals on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
