PEDRO CAN END DROUGHT AND BATTER THE HATTERS

XISCO MUNOZ is backing Joao Pedro to break his drought and fire Watford in bandit country.

The Hornets’ boy from Brazil (right) has not scored in eight games, but Munoz believes the M1 derby at Luton will jog his striker’s memory of the day he became a hero in the Golden Boys’ heartlands.

Pedro’s first goal for Watford was the winner against the Hatters, on his 19th birthday, last September – their first win against the old enemy at Vicarage Road in 33 years.

Munoz has presided over an astonishing run of 34 points from a possible 39 and his “warriors” are now seven points clear of third-placed Swansea.

“It is a good opportunity for Joao, and if he could score in a game which means so much to our fans, it would be very good news for us,” he said. “In our last game, his level was perfect

– he worked very hard for the team and sometimes it happens that strikers go through a spell without scoring.

“But it is important he continues with the same attitude and maybe in the next game it will be his turn.”

Hornets legend Tommy Mooney has given Munoz a crash course in the history of a fierce provincial rivalry.

Watford godfather Graham Taylor’s runaway 4-0 win at

Kenilworth Road 24 years ago was a tipping point in the clubs’ modern history and Munoz said: “Everyone on social media tells me about the game from 1997.

“We want to try to give the same happiness to our fans.

“Tommy knows the history and he told me very good things for this important game.

“Everybody knows about these derbies, because it’s a different spirit – but it is also it’s a very tough game.”