Back in April 1999, Watford started their final eight games four points outside the play-offs having gone into the international break on a run of five games without a win.
They had lost three and drawn two, and failed to score in four of that quintet of games. Indeed, the final game before the break was a dire 0-0 draw with Bury, a game which was played out in front of just 9,336 fans at Vicarage Road.
As well as being four points adrift of sixth place, they had also played a game more than Bolton, Wolves and Sheffield United who were fifth, sixth and seventh in the table respectively.
Graham Taylor had a job on his hands, and the first game back after the international break looked to be heading south too as visitors Tranmere took a 53rd-minute lead through David Kelly.
Peter Kennedy levelled things up after 67 minutes, but then Richard Johnson was sent off with 10 minutes to go.
Four minutes later referee Graham Frankland gave Watford a penalty when a Tranmere defender handled, Tommy Mooney’s spot-kick was saved but Michel Ngonge scored the rebound to make it 2-1.
The drama wasn’t over though, as Mr Frankland then sent off Allan Smart for his part in a melee after the goal.
The nine Hornets held out for what had looked an unlikely victory – and that emotionally-charged afternoon kick-started a run of six consecutive wins, and 22 points from the last 24 which catapulted Watford into the play-offs, and ultimately the Premier League.
“It’s a different era of course, but we’d definitely take that,” grinned current head coach Chris Wilder when reflecting upon that 1999 run-in.
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“If we can win on Saturday then that could be the thing that fires us up and kick-starts everything.
“I know about what happened here in 1999, and the run that Graham Taylor had to get to the play-offs was started by a win when Watford had two sent off.
“In every successful season there will be games that players, managers and supporters look back and think that was the moment things turned for us.
“If Arsenal win the Premier League, I’m sure they’ll talk about the Bournemouth game when they were 2-0 down and came back to win with a goal in the 95th minute.
“The easy part is sitting here and talking about. What we need to do is actually go out there and do it. I think all of us understand that we’ve got to win a group of games now to force our way into the play-offs.
“We have to quickly get over the disappointment of not beating Wigan last time out, and look forward to the challenge at Luton.
“It is still all to play for, and we have the clarity there of knowing what we need to do.”
Of course, getting a run together will mean Watford doing something they have managed to achieve only once this season: winning back-to-back league games.
Wilder has only had three matches in charge, but what does he think can turn a team that hasn’t won consecutive league games since October into one that could win six or more of its final eight league fixtures?
“So often one really big result kicks you off, and obviously a game at Luton presents that sort of opportunity,” he said.
“We had a great result against Birmingham, and the majority of the performance against Wigan was decent apart from the latter stages.
“Focussing on what is in front of us is key. Each game, each challenge, focus on them and tick them off. However we get those wins, we’ll take them.
“If we get one out of the way with three points, then we have to move quickly onto the next and so on. It’s a bunch of games crammed into five weeks.
“I know what my ambition is, and for me as head coach there is no real hiding place because everybody has talked about the quality of the squad here.
“But it takes more than quality to win games of football, and those other characteristics required are what the players in the squad need to show in these last eight games.”
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Of course, Watford fans will point to the 4-0 win over Luton at Vicarage Road in October as evidence of what can be achieved, while Hatters fans will hope their players can be motivated by the desire for revenge.
Wilder, though, feels the last derby will bring nothing to bear on this weekend’s match.
“That game in October has no relevance on Saturday, not as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
“Simplistically, this is a new fixture at their place, so obviously they have the home advantage.
“The main thing is, if we are going to achieve something this season, then we have to go and deliver performances and results regardless of where we’re playing and who we’re playing against.
“I wasn’t here when we beat Luton in October, the players obviously enjoyed it but they would have had to move on quite quickly after.
“I would imagine Luton’s attitude towards this game is going to be pretty consistent with the attitude they have adopted all season. They are where they are in the league because they have had consistent performances, which generate consistent results.”
There is the added ingredient in this derby that Luton are managed by the man who began the season in charge of Watford: Rob Edwards.
The current Luton manager was in charge of the Hornets for one league game less than the 11 Wilder has been given – but does his time, albeit short, at Vicarage Road give him any edge against his former club?
“It obviously means Rob knows the players, but then I’d expect any other manager to know our players,” said Wilder.
“Rob might know them a bit better because he’s coached them, but there is enough information around these days to know what opposition players can do, and their strengths and weaknesses.”
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