Jack Wilshere praises Luton’s efforts despite playing out Rotherham stalemate

Luton boss Jack Wilshere praised his side’s efforts despite their inability to break down a dogged Rotherham side during Saturday afternoon’s goalless League One draw at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters saw their four-game winning run in all competitions ended in drab fashion, as the Millers collected the point they had clearly set their signs on obtaining in a 90 minutes to forget.

Wilshere said: “It was tough, tough for the players because I played against teams that come and just sit in and defend.

“You have to be brave, you have to have courage, you have to take risks at times because the distances are so close.

“You have to pass it into areas where the player receiving has to be really good, really clean, to try and just create something, create a little opening or someone to just jump out of defence.

“But I was proud of the players for continuing to do it the same way.

“I know we spoke a lot about connecting with the fans and we want the fans to be with us and we really felt they were today.

“It’s not always been the case when the team has tried to – before I was here -have that kind of game, a little bit slower, a little bit more calculated, and I was proud of the players and the fans clapped us off which we’re happy about.”

It was Rotherham who had the best chance in the first period, Jordan Hugill’s header well saved by Josh Keeley, with Luton’s only real opportunities seeing Jerry Yates not get enough on his flick and Lamine Fanne fire wide from 22 yards.

After the break, Yates and Gideon Kodua both went close, as Jacob Brown’s backheel was easy for Cameron Dawson, while Zack Nelson and Teden Mengi were wayward from range as the spoils were ultimately shared.

Millers boss Matt Hamshaw was definitely the more satisfied with the outcome, saying: “We’re having rotten luck at the minute with injuries.

“We’ve got 11 first-team players out and I think it would have been a really good game had we had our forward players fit.

“You saw a threat first half and then second half we didn’t have much going forward with the greatest will to the group, but I felt like the resilience we’ve got, the togetherness we’ve got in the group got us a point.

“They’ve got a real good team, they’ll be up there come the end of the season. I’m looking at the subs they’re bringing on, it’s a good squad, Jack will do really well.

“They’ve got Hakeem Odoffin who I’ve worked with, Cohen Bramall, Jerry Yates and they speak really highly of him, so I’m sure they’ll have a successful season.”