ANDONI Iraola says Cherries will have to put their “relationship” with Luton Town to one side when they host the Hatters later this evening.

Luton Town return to the south coast for the first time since their captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest in December.

In moving scenes at Vitality Stadium, both sets of fans lapped the ground and applauded the crowd for their understanding and compassion.

The match between Cherries and Luton was subsequently abandoned and rearranged.

Cherries and Luton’s fates arguably first became entwined when the pair sat bottom of the fourth tier a decade and a half ago, starting the 2008/09 season on -17 points and -30 points respectively.

READ MORE: Iraola: Both Cherries and Luton have changed since abandoned game

Whilst Cherries would go on to stay up, Luton were relegated into non-league, eventually returning to the Football League in 2014.

The two teams now share a division once again, playing amongst England’s elite in the Premier League.

Discussing the rise of both teams in recent years, Iraola began: “15 years later after being the last two in the League two, both teams have the chance to face each other in the Premier League.

“Probably the two smallest stadiums in the Premier League and also with how the other game went and with the Tom Lockyer incident, I think there has been and will continue to be quite a relationship between the clubs, between the players, between even the coaches.

“Because of these things, sometimes make you feel more together and leave football to one side.

“Definitely I wish them the best, but I need and we need to beat them.

“We will fight because we need the points and I'm sure they will do the same.”

Iraola also revealed that he had been in contact with Luton Town counterpart Rob Edwards after the incident.

The Basque boss continued: “The next week after the incident we messaged each other to know how Tom was doing, how everything was evolving.

“When these things happen, you have to leave football one side and then you forget about the game.

“We will for sure ask how he (Tom) feels, how he's doing.

“But once the referee whistles, we have three huge points for both teams to play for.”