Luton chief always feared Watford clash would be behind closed doors

Luton boss Nathan Jones’ fears that his side would take on fierce rivals Watford behind closed doors turned out to be proved correct after the Championship fixtures were announced last week.

Friday’s release day saw the Hatters’ trip to Vicarage Road scheduled for September 26, the third game of the season.

With no fans allowed to watch matches until October at the earliest due to the social distancing measures in place, it means Town’s first clash at the Hornets since April 2006 will be played in front of an empty stadium.

However, Jones was relieved that the return game at Kenilworth Road, on Saturday, April 17, should have supporters present.

He said: “We felt that we were going to get them in the first month because of the intense rivalry between both clubs, two real good clubs.

“We feared one of them would come in the no fans times.

“We’ve got one of the biggest games away at Watford, and it’s sad that they can’t be there straightaway from the first game.

“We are just glad it’s this way round, because we’d rather go to Vicarage Road with no fans and have the return fixture here at Kenilworth Road with, what we all hope by then would be a full house.

“So that’s one bonus to it.”