Match ends, Rotherham United 0, Bournemouth 2.
RotherhamRotherham United0BournemouthAFC Bournemouth2
Bournemouth maintained their one-point lead at the top of the Championship with a clinical win at Rotherham.
The Cherries had the better of the first half with Marc Pugh heading a chance wide and Callum Wilson having an effort ruled out for a foul.
But they had to wait until injury time to go ahead when Tommy Elphick headed home a Charlie Daniels cross.
Wilson wrapped up an eighth win in nine away matches after the break, shooting home from close range after a scramble.
The victory, which kept Bournemouth ahead of Ipswich Town and extended the lead over third-placed Derby County to three points, rarely looked in doubt despite a spirited home response to Wilson's goal.
The margin never looked like being a repeat of the 5-1 thumping handed out to the Millers in the FA Cup earlier this month, but the manner of the win was equally impressive.
The Cherries defended resolutely throughout and created the better opportunities in a tight game.
| Contrasting fortunes |
|---|
| Rotherham have now not won any of their last eight home games in all competitions, while Bournemouth have only lost once in 16 Championship matches. |
Wilson had an effort disallowed for a foul on Kari Arnason just after the half-hour and the visitors then started to get on top as Pugh headed an effort just wide and Matt Ritchie and Wilson also went close.
Rotherham's best opportunity saw Jack Barmby, recently signed on loan from Leicester, shoot narrowly wide in the 44th minute after a fine move.
But two goals either side of the interval settled the contest and ended any hope of a first Rotherham win in 15 games.
Elphick met a deep Daniels cross to open the scoring and Wilson's simple finish doubled the advantage.
Brett Pitman almost added a third with free-kick that flew just wide, before the hosts got on top in the latter stages.
Simon Francis made a crucial clearance and only a brave block by Cherries defender Steve Cook denied Paul Green a late consolation.
Rotherham manager Steve Evanson referee Stephen Martin: "He's had an absolute shocker from start to finish. That's the worst official we have had in about five years. I don't remember playing away from home and getting so many decisions from a match official. I think that's quite hard to take as a manager.
"I think we're unfortunate to concede before half-time because if you've got a stopwatch that's the same as mine, he's over time."
On Bournemouth players Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson: "They are two of the most gifted players on the pitch - but how they have not been booked for simulation...the mind boggles.
"I thought for large parts of the game we gave the best team in the league a run for their money."
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "We have been good defensively on the road and we protected our goal very well. I think whenever you watch us play this season we've always looked like we've had goals in us and we were quite ruthless when our opportunities came along. That's a good combination when you are tight defensively and free-scoring."
The Cherries lost their first match in 15 Championship games last weekend after a 5-1 romp against Rotherham in the FA Cup and Howe added: "I think we've got a good squad and it's very difficult to pick a team when you are in my position with the strength that we have and the other guys have proved that in all the cup competitions this year.
"When the team has just been on a long unbeaten run and suffered its first defeat I wanted to give those lads an opportunity to respond and make sure I didn't make any knee-jerk reactions in terms of selections."
Line-ups
Rotherham
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 21Collin
- 16Richardson
- 20Morgan
- 4ArnasonBooked at 58mins
- 28FryersSubstituted forMilsomat 57'minutesBooked at 70mins
- 24HammillBooked at 74mins
- 11Green
- 33SmallwoodBooked at 64mins
- 25BarmbySubstituted forNewtonat 57'minutes
- 22WardSubstituted forBoweryat 75'minutes
- 23Sammon
Substitutes
- 5Broadfoot
- 10Bowery
- 15Milsom
- 17Newton
- 18Pringle
- 27Derbyshire
- 35Thompson
Bournemouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Camp
- 2Francis
- 5Elphick
- 3S Cook
- 11DanielsBooked at 67mins
- 30RitchieSubstituted forKermorgantat 90+4'minutes
- 6SurmanBooked at 40mins
- 8Arter
- 7PughSubstituted forA Smithat 90+5'minutes
- 10Pitman
- 13WilsonSubstituted forGoslingat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Gosling
- 15A Smith
- 18Kermorgant
- 19Stanislas
- 20Fraser
- 25Flahavan
- 32O'Kane
- Referee:
- Phil Gibbs
- Attendance:
- 9,157
Match Stats
Home TeamRotherhamAway TeamBournemouth
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away4
- Corners
- Home2
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rotherham United 0, Bournemouth 2.
Post update
Attempt saved. Yann Kermorgant (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dan Gosling.
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Adam Smith replaces Marc Pugh.
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Yann Kermorgant replaces Matt Ritchie.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Surman (Bournemouth).
Post update
Conor Newton (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Conor Newton (Rotherham United).
Post update
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Richard Smallwood.
Post update
Foul by Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth).
Post update
Robert Milsom (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Brett Pitman (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United).
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Green (Rotherham United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Robert Milsom.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Adam Hammill (Rotherham United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Sammon.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Dan Gosling replaces Callum Wilson.
Post update
Delay in match Lee Camp (Bournemouth) because of an injury.
