Luton Town 1-1 Rotherham United: Mick Harford's Hatters snatch late point

Mick Harford took interim charge of Luton

Life after Nathan Jones began with a dramatic Championship draw for Luton Town at home to Rotherham United.

Jamie Lindsay lashed home inside 60 seconds to put the Millers ahead and despite chances at both ends it looked set to be the decisive moment.

However interim boss Mick Harford, in charge after Jones became Southampton boss on Thursday, saw Jordan Clark's stoppage-time strike deflect in off Luke Berry to secure the Hatters' seventh home draw of the campaign.

After their midweek heroics at Sheffield United Matt Taylor's Rotherham were moments away from winning back-to-back away games in the Championship for the first time since March 2021.

The Millers were ahead inside 60 seconds at Kenilworth Road as Lindsay controlled a bouncing ball in the box and fired past Ethan Horvath, who is in the USA squad for the World Cup, to break the deadlock.

Chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes and Chiedozie Ogbene fired over the Luton bar after a good pass from Ben Wiles on 20 minutes before defender Tom Lockyer looped a header from a James Bree corner onto the roof of Viktor Johansson's net soon after.

Just before the half-hour Luton's Allan Campbell won possession and freed Elijah Adebayo who unselfishly squared to Carlton Morris who dragged his effort off target.

Johansson was called on to tip a long-range shot from Campbell over the bar on 36 minutes while Adebayo was well-marshalled by Lee Peltier and Peter Kioso five minutes later.

Bree fired a volley at Johansson after a deep Alfie Doughty cross before the interval and after the restart Morris headed another corner from Bree off-target.

Rotherham's Cohen Bramall saw a free-kick from just outside the area saved by Horvath with just over 20 minutes remaining while Wes Harding nodded wide from a Daniel Barlaser corner soon after.

With 15 minutes remaining Johansson produced a fine save to deny Doughty, whose low drive was tipped past the post by the flying Swede, while Berry had the ball in the net for the Hatters on 79 minutes, only to be denied by the offside flag.

Luke Freeman saw a late effort deflected narrowly over but at the start of seven added minutes at the end of the match Clark's strike cannoned-in off Berry to beat Johansson and level the scores.

Doughty almost won it for the hosts in the dying seconds, with Johansson producing a big save to ensure the points were shared.

Interim Luton manager Mick Harford told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"The players gave the club everything. I've really enjoyed the last few days, being around them and preparing for the game. It's been a bit of a whirlwind. They're a brilliant squad who work tirelessly. It didn't look like the manager had gone away, to be honest.

"The point was fully deserved in my opinion. I thought we dominated, we created chances. Rotherham got an early goal and it gave them something to hang onto. They were a tough nut to crack, they have a way of playing and they are very hard to break down.

"Overall I was pleased with a point, I'd rather have won obviously, but I thought the performance was brilliant."

Millers boss Matt Taylor told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We've been starting games well, on the front foot, pressuring well. We broke through, it was an excellent finish from Jamie.

"I was really pleased with the rest of the first half in the way we influenced the game. The second half was a similar pattern, we lost a little bit of control and the opposition put us under a little but of pressure.

"Our delivery from set pieces let us down a little bit too much for my liking but the lads have given me everything and it was another positive performance.

"We were a little bit tired, the keeper's not been overworked. The goal is a cruel one, to hit it from there and hit his own player - luck hasn't been on our side the past few weeks, but the signs are really positive in terms of what this team can do."