Millers earn solid point at a packed Kenilworth Road...

A sold-out Kenilworth bore witness to late drama as the home side managed to rescue a point and stop the Millers achieving two away wins on the bounce, when Clark’s deflected shot off substitute Luke Berry cancelled out Jamie Lindsay’s stunning opener.

A defensively solid showing saw impressive performances from the Rotherham backline, standing tall throughout and only falling late on to an unfortunate deflection.

For the first time in his Millers’ tenure, boss Matt Taylor opted to field an unchanged starting eleven – an understandable decision considering Tuesday night’s heroics at Bramall Lane.

Before either team had settled into the game, the deadlock had been broken. Not even a minute into the action, Chiedozie Ogbene found space down the left. The Irish international cut the ball back across the Luton box, where a defender was rushed into an attempted clearance – Jamie Lindsay capitalised when he struck a volley on the spin to notch his second of the season, 55 seconds in.

The Hatters went in search of an instant response as Allan Campbell managed to get his head up and fashion a shot inside the Millers box, but characteristically, Cameron Humphreys sensed the danger quick and blocked the effort from close range.

Former Miller Carlton Morris would be desperate to have his name written on the scoresheet, as anyone would against their former employers, and the Luton number 9 certainly looked dangerous as he latched on a loose header from strike partner Elijah Adebayo, but luckily defensive general Lee Peltier was there to shepherd the ball away from Morris and make the clearance.

The home side looked dangerous following Lindsay’s stunning opener, but the Millers rearguard continued to deny the Hatters the trio of Harding, Humphreys, and Peltier remained strong.

A very physical game was to be expected on a cold afternoon at Kenilworth Road, and those expectations were certainly delivered. An intense battle in the middle of the park raged on as both teams continued to vie for control, knowing the next goal would be crucial.

The visitors came within a whisker of grabbing that aforementioned goal when Elijah Adebayo led a charge towards goal with Morris providing support. The Luton 11 squared the ball for his strike partner Morris who aimed a shot first-time towards the bottom left, but the curl dragged it narrowly wide of the post.

Johansson was called into action again as Alfie Doughty slid a ball forward to find Allan Campbell. The midfielder ran at a retreating Millers defence and aimed a powerful effort towards the top corner, but the Rotherham ‘keeper reacted well and pulled out an acrobatic save.

HALF TIME: LUTON TOWN 0 – 1 ROTHERHAM

The Millers came out for the second 45’ reinvigorated. This was showcased as Ollie Rathbone chipped a smart ball over the heads of a sleeping Luton defence for Cohen Bramall, the lightning-fast wing-back drilled a powerful cross in search of Ben Wiles – but the Millers’ skipper was just short of a connection.

The Millers’ sharp start was not to say that the Hatters were without threat. Bree gained a yard on Peltier and directed a low driven ball across the Rotherham danger area, but an acrobatic clearance from Harding ensured the Millers’ lead was kept intact.

It was real end-to-end stuff in the second half as the Millers forged another great chance. Barlaser showed his typically impressive vision to spot the run of Bramall in behind the Hatters defence, but his punching cross was blocked bravely by Lockyer.

Once again, Viktor Johansson proved his worth between the sticks when he produced another brilliantly acrobatic save to deny Doughty and preserve the lead.

Substitute Luke Berry sent the Hatters’ faithful into the raptures when the ball dropped kindly at his feet, as he quickly slid it past Johansson – the Luton celebrations were cut short however as the assistant referee had raised his flag for offside.

Yet again however, Millers’ hearts were broken at the death as Jordan Clark received the ball on the edge of the box from a corner, striking it towards goal. The effort took an unfortunate deflection off substitute Luke Berry and bounced into the back of Johansson’s net.

FULL TIME: LUTON TOWN 1 – 1 ROTHERHAM

Teams

Luton Town – Horvath, Bree, Lockyer, Morris, Adebayo (Cornick 70’), Mpanzu, Clarke, Campbell (Freeman 70’), Bell, Osho (Berry 57’), Doughty; SUBS – Watson, Isted, Williams, Pettit.

Rotherham – Johansson, Harding, Bramall, Barlaser, Wiles (Eaves 76’), Ogbene (Washington 90+1'), Lindsay (Odoffin 90+1’), Rathbone, Peltier, Humphreys, Kioso (Norton-Cuffy 45’); SUBS – Wood, High, Vickers.

Referee – Stephen Martin

Attendance – 10,071 (1,040)