Grit, determination and another game without defeat ... on-the-whistle report: Luton Town 0 Rotherham United 0
INJURY-HIT Rotherham United battled to one of their best results of the season as they extended their unbeaten League One run to seven matches this afternoon.
The depleted Millers were up against a Luton Town side who had won their last four games and they shut out the Hatters to claim their second successive clean sheet despite their lack of fit centre-halves.
The goalless draw lifted them a place in the table to 11th spot.
Midfield duo Dan Gore and Kian Spence were immense and all of the back three performed superbly in a team display of heroic defiance.
Matt Hamshaw's men were without striker Sam Nombe because of a quad issue and their problems in attack worsened when Jordan Hugill had to go off.
Rotherham were the first side to threaten and Jordan Hugill forced a save from Josh Keeley with an eighth-minute header from Joe Rafferty's cross.
On a rainy afternoon in Bedfordshire, Kenilworth Road was shrouded in gloom as the visitors defended resolutely and kept the Hatters at bay.
The home side were passing the ball neatly, but the half-hour mark passed without Cameron Dawson being called into serious action.
Referee Craig Hicks erred badly when he blew for a foul in the Millers' favour instead of allowing play to continue as Shaun McWilliams was racing in on goal
There were two two familiar faces in the Luton team - Rotherham old boys Cohen Bramall and Jerry Yates- while a third former Miller, Hakeem Odoffin, was on the bench.
Bramall was a threat on the left flank but Denzel Hall and Joe Rafferty were doing well in containing the danger
In the meantime, the Millers were looking to break forward whenever they could and Martin Sherif had a shot blocked by Kai Naismith as half-time approached.
Rotherham were without their main man up front, Sam Nombe, so Sherif had come in to partner Hugill in attack.
Spence was fit again after a calf niggle and replaced Ar'Jany Martha who is away on international duty with Curacao.
With the Millers still without any senior centre-halves because of injuries, young Hamish Douglas was at the heart of the backline again following impressive performances in the previous two games.
Teenager Josh Ayres came on at the break for his first-ever taste of league football and Rotherham continued to frustrate Luton as they battled for every ball.
Ref Hicks, who was otherwise having a good game, repeated his trick of blowing for a foul for the visitors when McWilliams was on the verge of breaking clear.
Luton pressed but the Millers never looked like breaking and they fully deserved the point they’d fought so hard for.
Luton (4-2-3-1): Josh Keeley; Isaiah Jones, Teden Mengi, Mads Anderson, Kai Naismith; Lamine Fanne (Jacob Brown 78), Liam Walsh; Jake Richards (Gideon Kodua H-T), Nahki Wells (Zack Nelson 62), Cohen Bramall (Millenic Alli 78); Jerry Yates. Subs not used: James Shea, Hakeem Odoffin, Nigel Lonwijk.
Rotherham (3-1-4-2): Cameron Dawson; Joe Rafferty, Hamish Douglas, Reece James; Dan Gore; Denzel Hall, Shaun McWilliams (Dru Yearwood 85), Kian Spence, Joe Powell; Jordan Hugill (Josh Benson 45+3), Martin Sherif (Josh Ayres H-T, Liam Kelly 90). Subs not used: Ted Cann, Harrison Duncan, Jack Holmes.
Referee: Craig Hicks (Surrey)