'Beaten by a better side' ... Rotherham United boss Matt Taylor reacts to the defeat against Luton Town

The Millers suffered at 2-0 defeat at AESSEAL New York Stadium but remained in 18th spot in the Championship and, with five matches left to play, their survival fate still rests in their own hands.

The third-placed visitors, now unbeaten in their last ten outings, were well worth their victory and Taylor acknowledged: "We just were not quite good enough. We have to hold our hands up and say they were better than us. Not many teams have stopped us as well as they did."

The contest turned on goals either side of half-time. Rotherham conceded in the 45th minute when New York old boy Carlton Morris superbly fired home from a tight angle and then, 25 seconds after the restart, gave away a penalty that Cauley Woodrow converted on the rebound following Josh Vickers' save.

"It was a moment of quality from them towards the end of the first half and we started the second half so, so poorly," Taylor said. "It made it an awfully hard second period.

“Luton used their experience so, so well and you can see why they are third in the league. There is a lot to like about how they set up as a team. It’s what we aspire to be."

The Hatters have an outside chance of catching Sheffield United and making the top two and head coach Rob Edwards said:  "All we can do is win our games. United are in a really commanding position and still have their game in hand.

"We probed really well and got into the final third. Carlton’s magic got us that first goal and when we went 2-0 up the onus was not on us to go chasing the game. We could see the match out.

"It is hard when they throw the kitchen sink at you and there are some giants on the pitch. Overall, I am delighted with the group. They fight so hard for each other and the badge and the fans."