Foster: “We Want To Win It For The Fans”

Ben Foster says the players head to Luton Town on Saturday with twin motivation: to secure another three points in the pursuit of automatic promotion and to give the fans a league double over their rivals to celebrate.

Foster, 38, is the sole survivor from the team who last played in Bedfordshire against the Hatters, the keeper playing for Aidy Boothroyd's side in the lively encounter the Hornets won 2-1 in January 2006. The Golden Boys won promotion that season, via the play-offs, and Foster wants a repeat of that – only this time to do it automatically.

“This one has a little bit more significance attached to it,” he said. “If we go and get three points and carry on the good run we have been on, then it's a huge game for us. It's a derby and we want to do it for ourselves but for the fans mainly. It's another chance to get three points and it will put us that little bit closer to where we need to be.

“I don't think there needs to be any extra importance on any game. You have to approach every single game in exactly the same way. You can't get too carried away or too emotional. You've got to carry on in the same way and that's what the Head Coach here has been so good at. Once a game is played, it's done, you forget about it and move on to the next one.”

Foster has seen it all in Manchester, Black Country and Birmingham derbies. He knows he has a role to play on Saturday in educating the younger and foreign players of the squad on the significance of this game.

“We've got experienced players and I'm sure Troy and Clevs will be in the dressing room with us on Saturday,” he said. “They are the kind of lads you need around the place: the British core and then they get behind the other lads and let them know what this actually means not only as a club, but to the fanbase in general. We've got more to play for than Luton and while we'll look at them, it needs to be about us and we know what we have got, our strengths and our capabilities.”

The Hornets have won the last two at Kenilworth Road, famously 4-0 in 1997 and then most recently 15 years ago when Darius Henderson and Malky Mackay scored in a 2-1 win. Ashley Young was sent off for the Hornets.

“We won - and that's all that matters,” said Foster. “It was lively as soon as the coach turned up. It's not the most glamorous of stadiums and the changing rooms were a bit dingy, a little bit dark and they did all the old tricks like turning the heating up. The pitch was brutal and there were bobbles all over the place, but you have to adapt to the conditions and get the job done.

“It's great to put in a good performance, but so much is attached to the game that winning is all that matters. We can't go there with any additional energy or place more any more importance on it. We need to go there, get the game done, get the three points and then it's another step closer to where we want to be and where we should be. Hopefully Watford fans will have the bragging rights on Saturday.”