ROTHERHAM United slipped to another defeat as Luton Town grabbed all three points in the first meeting between the two sides at The New York Stadium.
Luton took the lead in the latter stages of the second half and Rotherham are left to rue some questionable defending and a lack of threat in the final third.
James Collins grabbed the only goal of the game. A free kick from the right by Luke Berry perfectly fell for Collins who only had to tap it home unchallenged in the area.
Both Rotherham and Luton showed their dedication to hard work as the first half brought few definitive chances, but both elevens’ ran hard after every loose ball and battled hard in their defensive halves.
Joe Mattock was an early casualty of the high intensity, being replaced by towering Matt ‘Tree’ Crooks before ten minutes had passed.
Rotherham seemed to be in Luton’s final third more as the half progressed but lacked that final shot to break the icy deadlock at The New York Stadium.
Luton finished the half ever so slightly on top after Jamal Blackman clawed away George Moncur’s shot and Matty Pearson fizzed a shot wide of the near post in the final seconds.
The lack of an attacking threat is a growing concern for Rotherham after dominating the first half with virtually no definitive chance in the second half to shout about. George Hirst and Freddie Ladapo tried to make an impact but fell short of the mark.
The wingers were the men of the day, but a sudden decline of composure on the ball gave a sour end to a first meeting at the New York.
Full Time: Rotherham United 0-1 Luton Town
Rotherham: Blackman, Harding, Ihiekwe ©, A MacDonald, Mattock (Crooks 10’), Lindsay, Wiles, Barlaser, Jozefzoon (Ladapo 80’), Miller, Smith (Hirst 57’)
(Subs not used: Johansson, Wood, Sadlier, Vassell)
Luton Town: Sluga, Cranie, Tunnicliffe, Bradley©, Pearson, Cornick (Lualua 63’), Berry, Moncur, Rea, Collins, Morrell (Mpanzu 45’)
(Subs not used: Shea, Lee, Lockyer, Bree, Nombe)
Goals: (Collins 70’)
Referee: Andy Madley
The Wandering Yorkshireman 