Cleverley wants Watford to ‘inflict more pain’ on Luton
Current form counts for very little in any derby game, and Tom Cleverley says his plans for the match at Luton on Saturday are not influenced by their recent results.
And having been a player under him at Vicarage Road, the Watford boss has much respect for his Luton counterpart Rob Edwards.
However, despite both those factors, Cleverley admits he want to “inflict more pain” on Edwards and Luton at Kenilworth Road.
“What Luton have done doesn’t concern me much, and I think form goes out of the window in derby games,” said Cleverley.
“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.”
It is a game likely to be frenetic, emotional and not lacking in heated moments.
“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.”
One ace Watford do have up their sleeves is their ability to change a game from the bench.
When they beat Middlesbrough last time out, both goalscorers were substitutes.
“Substitutes will always be a big thing for us, and I think when opposition look at Watford they will say we find an extra gear from 60 minutes onwards,” said Cleverley.
“That’s because of how well our subs impact games, and it is a big strength in our squad.
“It’s something I’m lucky to have.”
The bookies make Luton favourites to win on Saturday – they are odds-on with some firms – while Watford are as big as 3/1.
“I don’t know how they work out the odds,” said Cleverley.
“I don’t think we’ve been favourites in many games this season and we’ve won five out of nine.”
