Crystal Palace clash is not 'must win' insists Luton boss Rob Edwards

Luton boss Rob Edwards insists their trip to Crystal Palace is not a «must win» but accepts his team are entering a vital period in their Premier League survival battle.

The Hatters are in the relegation zone but only four points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, with a game in hand. Victory on Saturday would boost Luton's survival hopes but Edwards warns it is not a make-or-break clash.

«It's not a must win as if we don't it doesn't relegate us,» he said. «However, we do recognise the importance of the game and the players are on board with that. It's the first of 12 huge games coming up for us.»

Luton beat Palace at Kenilworth Road earlier this season, but the Eagles have since replaced Roy Hodgson with Oliver Glasner as manager.

«They have a new manager. It's nice we got three points last time around, but it's different to refer back to it,» added Edwards. «It's a different day, different circumstances, we will go into it and do our best.»

Bournemouth and Forest are Luton's next opponents, giving Edwards and his players a chance to collect more points.

«Clearly it's important we can take something from these three games, it can give us some real belief and confidence,» he said. «We don't have a target we want to try and win them all and nine points would be great but we know how difficult it is to win matches in the Premier League.

»We've set only a little aim going into the international break and the players are all on board. We'll try and win all three games, and we haven't won three in a row yet. It's a big, big week coming.

«But we know if we don't perform we'll struggle to get points.»