An “overwhelmed” Mick Harford was close to tears as he hailed the reception he got from Luton fans as a late Luke Berry goal earned the interim boss a point.
The club legend has stepped into the breach on countless occasion for this football club and he did so again today after Nathan Jones left for Southampton.
But, considering his battle with prostate cancer, there seemed an extra edge of gratitude from the Kenilworth Road faithful as Harford emerged from the tunnel before kick-off. That noise was about something much more important than football. He’s their hero and they let him know it.
Afterwards, a clearly emotional Harford said: “I’m overawed and overwhelmed by the reception they gave me. I just want to say a big thank you to them and thank you to the community for what they’ve done for me.
“They’re the best fans in the world. That reception was something different. Honestly, I really appreciate it. It’s overwhelming and it brings tears to my eyes.”
But the start of his second caretaker stint in three years got off to the worst possible start as Jamie Lindsay fired Rotherham into a lead on 55 seconds.
Town responded well and sent wave after wave off attack towards the Millers goal, but just couldn’t breach it.
Carlton Morris had the most gilt-edged chance when Elijah Adebayo, magnificent in the first period, squared to his partner, but he squirmed his shot wide.
Allan Campbell saw a rocket spectacularly palmed away by Viktor Johansson, who pulled off a string of fine saves.
Berry was introduced on 57 minutes and he had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for offside.
That was one of very few opportunities and Town, who had only scored second half goals at home in two other games this term, looked like they were heading for a disheartening defeat at the end of such a tumultuous week.
But in the 90th minute, Jordan Clark lashed a volley goalwards and, whether by luck or design, Berry got his boot to it and diverted it beyond the already committed Johansson.
Seven minutes of time were added on and the whole of Kenilworth Road thought that a great, late comeback was on the cards.
It didn’t transpire, but Harford said of the point: “Fully deserved, in my opinion. I thought we dominated the game in the first half, the chances we created and the positions we got ourselves into.
“They got a very early goal and it gave them something to hang on to. They’re a tough nut to crack, Rotherham.
“Am I pleased with a point? Yes. Would I rather have a win? One hundred per cent. But I thought the performance was brilliant.”
The late, late show helped lift an impending gloom that was preparing to send Luton into this most unusual of mid-season breaks for a World Cup that will featured Tom Lockyer (Wales) and Ethan Horvath (USA).
“They gave me everything. They gave the staff everything. They gave the club everything,” said Harford.
“I’ve really enjoyed the last three or four days, being around them, preparing for the game.
“We all know it’s been a bit of whirlwind since Nathan left and they’re a magnificent set of players, a brilliant squad who work tirelessly.
“What we asked them to do today was very, very seamless in terms of how they went out and produced and it didn’t look like the manager had gone away, in my opinion.”
With Harford at the wheel, there’s a sense of continuity at a club, as attention turns to his role in helping pick Town’s next boss.
And for the 9,031 Hatters fans inside Kenilworth Road, they were just happy to have their hero here.
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