Preview: Rotherham United vs. Luton Town - prediction, team news, lineups

A victory over Blackpool on Monday saw the Hatters move within five points of second-placed Sheffield United, who have a game in hand, while their hosts have given their survival hopes a major boost in recent weeks thanks to an upturn in form.

Match preview

After dropping worryingly close to the relegation zone in the Championship following back-to-back defeats to Birmingham City and Preston North End, which left them on 40 points from 37 league outings, Rotherham United now find themselves in a stronger position in the fight for survival.

The Millers firstly arrested any potential losing run by picking up a commendable point in a goalless draw away at Hull City at the beginning of April, before kicking off the Easter weekend double-header with a tough test at home to West Bromwich Albion.

John Swift converted a penalty to put the visitors ahead on the half-hour mark, but Jordan Hugill would level the scoring on the stroke of half time before netting his second of the game to put his side ahead early in the second half, and Tariqe Fosu wrapped up the impressive three-point haul with the Millers' third 14 minutes from time.

That victory moved Matt Taylor's side up to 18th spot in England's second tier, and they most recently faced another difficult contest on Monday away at Norwich City and made it three games unbeaten as the game finished goalless at Carrow Road.

Now with some confidence in the camp from their recent improvement, Rotherham United find themselves four points clear of Reading in the relegation zone with a game in hand, and they will look to take another step towards confirming their safety this weekend with what would be another impressive result.

They meet a Luton Town side who also travel in a strong vein of form, with the visitors keen to gain more ground on second-placed Sheffield United in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

With 50 points on the board from their opening 32 games, the Hatters looked set to be fighting for a playoff place towards the back end of the campaign, but they have instead cemented themselves in the top four and kept slim top-two hopes alive with a nine-match unbeaten run including six victories.

That included a 1-0 triumph over the second-placed Blades in mid-March, and after further victories over Bristol City and Watford either side of a 1-1 draw away at Sunderland, Rob Edwards's side went into the Easter weekend with a six-point gap to Sheffield United and that deficit would grow further as they only managed a goalless draw away at Millwall on Friday while the South Yorkshire outfit triumphed over Wigan Athletic.

Following a quick turnaround, they then took on strugglers Blackpool away from home on Monday, and their hosts went ahead through Andy Lyon's on the half-hour mark, but Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu levelled the scores in the second added minute of the first half, before Carlton Morris put Luton ahead in the second half and Mpanzu quickly netted his second of the contest to seal their 19th league victory of the campaign.

Thanks to that return to winning ways, and with the Blades losing in their trip to Burnley on Monday, the Hatters now sit five points off second place, but with just five games left to play, while Paul Heckingbottom's side have six, they can only focus on putting a run of wins together and hoping for more mistakes from the second-placed outfit.

Rotherham United Championship form:

W

L

L

D

W

D

Luton Town Championship form:

W

W

D

W

D

W

Team News

Rotherham United are dealing with an unenviable injury list, particularly at the back, with first-choice goalkeeper Viktor Johansson sidelined alongside experienced centre-backs Grant Hall, Sean Morrison and Bailey Wright, while fellow defender Tyler Blackett was the latest player to be confined to the treatment room as he was forced off in their draw away at Norwich City.

Given those absences, Lee Peltier will likely come in from the outset to operate in a makeshift role in the middle of the defence alongside Cameron Humphreys, while midfielder Ben Wiles also remains out of action through injury and Taylor could again field the trio of Conor Coventry, Oliver Rathbone and Jamie Lindsay in the engine room in his absence, although Hakeen Odoffin is also vying to return from the outset.

The front three is also likely to be unaltered, with Jordan Hugill bound to lead the line while Brentford loanee Tariqe Fosu and top scorer Chiedozie Ogbene, who has notched up seven Championship goals so far this season, will keep their spots on the flanks.

Luton Town should come into Saturday's trip with an unchanged starting XI after their win at Blackpool last time out, with Jordan Clark, Dan Potts and Gabriel Osho the only players sitting out through injury.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who netted a brace in that victory, will again play a crucial role in midfield with Allan Campbell and Aston Villa loanee Marvelous Nakamba, while the back three of Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer and Amari'i Bell should remain unaltered despite competition from Sonny Bradley.

There is also competition up front, with Cauley Woodrow vying to come in from the outset, although Elijah Adebayo is likely to keep his place alongside star man Carlton Morris, who netted his 17th Championship goal of the season on Monday.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Vickers; Harding, Peltier, Humphreys, Bramall; Rathbone, Coventry, Lindsay; Ogbene, Hugill, Fosu

Luton Town possible starting lineup:

Horvath; Burke, Lockyer, Bell; Drameh, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Doughty; Campbell; Adebayo, Morris

We say: Rotherham United 1-2 Luton Town

Previews by email