The Town’s wait for an away win goes on as they were held to a draw at Doncaster.
A fine Kasey Palmer goal – his first for the Hatters – had Jack Wilshere’s side ahead at the break.
But Rovers hit back in the second half and, minutes after Liam Walsh came close to doubling the Town’s lead, home striker Brandon Hanlan equalised.
Doncaster looked the more likely to find a winner in the closing stages and the Hatters needed a dramatic series of clearances in the goalmouth in the final minute of added time to secure a point.
It began with Jack Wilshere making four changes to the side that lost to Reading on Saturday. In defence Hakeem Odoffin replaced Kal Naismith while there were two changes in midfield with Davy van den Berg and Liam Walsh replacing Jake Richards and George Saville. Nahki Wells led the line with Devante Cole dropping to the bench.
The Town, without a win at Doncaster since 1955, had Josh Keeley to thank for a save less than 90 seconds in when keeping out Glenn Middleton’s first-time drive.
Slowly the Hatters grew into the game but half-chances were few and far between with Jordan Clark just unable to find the target having been found by a fine cross from van den Berg.
It was end-to-end as the mid-point of the first half approached and Keeley needed to be alert to hold on to ex-Hatter Matty Pearson’s header on 25 minutes.
However, two minutes later, the Town had the lead. Van den Berg and Clark helped the ball into Palmer’s path and the midfielder took one touch on the edge of the box before fizzing a superb low drive into the bottom corner.
Ahead the Hatters were almost pegged back three minutes before the break when Pearson somehow skewed an effort wide from close range.
After the restart Keeley kept out a flying effort from Middleton before the game’s crucial moment came on 58 minutes.
Walsh flew forward and let fly with a swerving low shot from 20 yards that Rovers goalkeeper Alexander Clark kept out with a superb strong hand.
It would prove a pivotal save as, less than two minutes later, the hosts levelled when Pearson’s long pass was flicked on and Hanlan raced through and slotted past Keeley.
All of a sudden it was all Rovers and the Town had a real let-off on 65 minutes when Middleton’s left-wing cross caused confusion in the penalty area and Joe Johnson was on hand to hack the loose ball clear with the goal at the hosts’ mercy.
Wilshere introduced Richards, Cole, Saville and Cohen Bramall but the Hatters were struggling to create chances in the final third as the hosts upped the ante.
Keeley was once more called into action – this time keeping out a goal-bound effort from Harry Clifton with nine minutes left, while at the other end, as the Town attempt to pinch a late winner, Walsh skied a shot over the bar on 87 minutes.
But as time ticked down it was Rovers who came closing to winning all three points. Clifton shot straight at Keeley again before the Hatters survived a goalmouth scramble deep into injury time with the hosts unable to convert the loose ball.
The Hatters now head to Wycombe on Saturday aiming to end a run of 11 games without a win away from Kenilworth Road.
We’ll see you then.
Town: Keeley, Jones, Johnson, Lonwijk, Odoffin, van den Berg (sub Richards 66), Walsh, Clark, Lawrence (sub Bramall 73), Palmer (sub Saville 73), Wells (sub Cole 73).
Subs not used: Shea, Naismith, Kodua.
Attendance: 7,470, with 642 supporting the Hatters
