HUGE ROOLIEF

Rotherham put survival back in Wayne’s hands on final day of season

WAYNE ROONEY could probably allow himself just a small grin last night.

Because his Derby County side now have safety back in their own hands after brave Rotherham huffed and puffed but could not break

Luton Town down.

Rooney (right) and his team will survive if they can beat Sheffield Wednesday at home whatever the Millers do at

Cardiff City on

Saturday.

But there appeared to be a feeling at the end that Rotherham had blown their big chance with a resigned look about the Yorkshiremen.

This was just their sixth point in an 11-game period which they have been forced to play in just 32 days following two bouts of Covid. They can still stay up if they win in South Wales but they are relying on Derby failing to beat Wednesday, with the Owls also still in with a chance of survival. A lively first half was followed by a subdued second. And Luton probably had the better chances. The best player on the night Kiernan Dewsbury-hall twice had early efforts to break the deadlock. At the other end, Rotherham midfielder Lewis Wing saw a deflected free-kick held by Simon Sluga. Luton should have taken the lead as Elijah Adebayo’s powerful effort hit the underside of the bar from James Bree’s header down.

The Millers responded with Matt Smith’s header wide from

Ryan Giles’s cross and in an open game, Dewsbury-hall’s corner was palmed onto the post by Jamal Blackman.

Then it was Rotherham’s turn to feel the frustration as Matt Crooks’s deft flick somehow hit the post and bounced along the line but not over it. The second half failed to match the first as Rotherham’s recent exertions appeared to catch up on them.

Paul Warne’s men struggled to create clear-cut chances although Crooks headed agonisingly wide from Giles’s cross. It was Luton who looked the more likely with Matty Pearson going close from Dewsbury-hall while Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and Kal Naismith both fired over.

Luton should have found the winner when Adebayo fired over following a rapid break and they did have the ball in the net in stoppage time. Sonny Bradley headed in from Dewsbury-hall’s corner but the effort was disallowed for an infringement.

Rooney will have been happy enough with this outcome. But more twists are still possible on the final day of the season.

LUTON TOWN: Sluga 6, Pearson 7, Bradley 7, Naismith 7, Bree 6, Rea 6, Tunnicliffe 6 (Lualua 76, 6), MOTM Dewsbury-hall 7, Potts 6 (Cornick 46, 6), Adebayo 6, Collins 6

(Mpanzu 63, 6)

ROTHERHAM: Blackman 6, Ihiekwe 7, Wood 7, Harding 6, Olosunde 6 (Ogbene 65, 6), Barlaser 6 (Mattock 74, 6), Wiles 6, Wing 6, Giles 6, Crooks 7, Smith 6 (Ladapo 65, 6)

REFEREE: David Webb

TOWN AND OUT Luton players are left unimpressed after a goal was ruled out late on