Millers undone by leaders

Although the match was a closer contest than the recent FA Cup tie which ended 5-1, the visitors still had enough quality to win 2-0 with goals from skipper Tommy Elphick and Callum Wilson.

Steve Evans fielded five home debutants in Jack Barmby, Adam Hammill, Danny Ward, Zeki Fryers and Conor Sammon, the last two making their full debuts having arrived joined on loan this week from Crystal Palace and Derby County respectively.

Bournemouth looked threatening in the first half against the new-look line-up, with Matt Ritchie and Harry Arter both going close and a slick interchange freeing Callum Wilson for a close-range smash that brought a good stop from goalkeeper Adam Collin.

But just as Rotherham began to come into the match in the run-up to half time and saw both Hammill and Barmby threaten from distance, they slipped behind in stoppage time as Elphick’s header from a free-kick went off of the far post.

Bournemouth carried the momentum into the second half and when a goalmouth scramble ended with Wilson hooking high into the goal just after the hour mark, the Millers were left with a huge task to find a way back. Although Sammon, Paul Green and subsititute Conor Newton all had chances late on, they couldn’t earn themselves a lifeline.

The result leaves them one place above the relegation zone.

Millers: Collin, Richardson, Fryers (Milsom 57), Morgan, Arnason, Green, Smallwood, Ward, Barmby (Newton 57), Hammill, Sammon

Bournemouth: Camp, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Surman, Pugh (Smith 90), Arter, Pitman, Daniels, Wilson (Gosling 79), Ritchie (Kermogant 90)

Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire)

Attendance: 9,157 (624 visitors)