Luton wrap up home programme with draw against struggling Rotherham
Luton Town’s home fixture programme for the season was ended with a 0-0 draw at home to Rotherham United.
A match rescheduled from March due to a covid outbreak in the Rotherham squad had significance for the side from South Yorkshire. An away victory would’ve taken Rotherham out of the relegation zone ahead of the final day.
But ultimately there was no winner in a game that saw both sides miss a decent quantity of chances to win.
While the result means Rotherham will start the final day 2 points from safety, Luton will go into the final day mathematically assured of a top half finish. Nathan Jones’ side can now no longer finish lower than 12th in the table, making this their highest finish in English football since finishing 10th in the 2005-06 Championship table.
Against the Millers, Luton created an early chance after a long-range hit by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was saved by Jamal Blackman. Rotherham then created a similar opportunity, as a free-kick by Lewis Wing from distance had to be clawed away by Simon Sluga.
A lively opening saw Dewsbury-Hall curl an effort just wide before Rotherham’s Ben Wiles had a strike blocked by Sonny Bradley.
Perhaps the best chance would fall for Elijah Adebayo. The Hatters striker was able to break into the box, before his shot crashed off the bar after beating Blackman.
Rotherham would then come close again as Michael Smith headed wide, before Simon Sluga denied Matt Crooks.
Luton then nearly had an unorthodox opener, as a Dewsbury-Hall corner was bending towards the goal only for Blackman to tip the ball onto the post.
Rotherham would then hit the woodwork, as Crooks was able to lob Sluga but saw his strike hit the post and then be claimed by the home side’s Croatian goalkeeper.
Dewsbury-Hall then crashed a drive wide in first half added time at the end of a lively first half.
The second would be a bit more cagey, with less of the goalmouth action that was seen in the first. But the introduction of Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu would lift Luton, with the midfielder’s run yielding a chance that Adebayo saw saved by Blackman.
Rotherham showed a little bit more after that, with substitute Chiedozie Ogbene having a shot blocked before Crooks headed wide after being found in a great position from Giles’ cross.
Matty Pearson would see a header saved by Blackman before Mpanzu and Kal Naismith wafted efforts off target.
Wing would then see a free-kick saved by Sluga as Rotherham tried to find a late winner, though they were nearly hit on the break after Adebayo fired wide on the counter.
Luton then nearly had the satisfaction of late winner through a 92nd minute goal, only for Bradley’s goal to be disallowed for a push.
The club will go to QPR to wrap up their season on Saturday. Victory in West London on the final day would see Luton finish the season level on points with QPR, though they need a big goal difference swing to finish above them.