Bournemouth have gone unbeaten in their final eight games of the Championship season after beating Millwall 1-0 in their final game of the season, having already guaranteed promotion after their victory midweek against Nottingham Forrest.
Bournemouth have gone unbeaten in their final eight games of the Championship season after beating Millwall 1-0 in their final game of the season, having already guaranteed promotion after their victory midweek against Nottingham Forrest.
The first bit of action fell Millwall’s way as Nat Phillips gave away a foul on the left-hand side of the 18-yard box, in the fourth minute. The resulting free kick caused a small scramble in the box as the ball bounced around like it was in a pin ball machine but came to nothing.
Five minutes later, Bournemouth’s first threatening attack came as Adam Smith picked the ball up on the right wing and played it to Solanke who was sat on the penalty spot; he then layed it off to Jaden Anthony who tried to lightly curl it past the keeper’s left-hand side however it sailed past the post.
The first big chance of the game came in the 17th minute as Adam Smith played a ball over the top of the Millwall defence, sending Marcondes through one-on-one with Bialkowski however, he fired the ball straight at the keeper.
The Cherries had yet another brilliant chance to score in the 36th minute as Solanke was sent through in one-on-one however his touch let him down, allowing Millwall to get back. His left footed attempt curled just past the post, letting The Lions off.
The first half ended 0-0; Bournemouth were very comfortable with 58% possession and not conceding a shot on target however you wou would feel that Scott Parker would feel that is side deserved more.
The Lions made a half-time change with Murray Wallace coming off for Maikel Kieftenbeld
Millwall had a big penalty shout in the 53rd minute when Phillips barged George Saville down in the box as everyone associated with Millwall called for a penalty, however nothing was given. Replays show that they may feel hard done by the decision.
Millwall made another change in the 58th minute as Jed Wallace replaced Mason Bennett Bournemouth made their first substitution in the 61st minute of the game as Siriki Dembele is brought on for Brady.
Jordan Zemura caused Millwall all sorts of problems today and in the 62nd minute he picked up the ball on the halfway line and carries it to the edge of the box and plays in Marcondes. The Dane scuffed his shot, causing it to bobble into the back of the net sending Cherries fans into euphoria.
However, the linesman raised his flag and very quickly spoiled the party. As Marcondes’ shot bobbled in, Zemura was obscuring the keeper’s line of sight from an offside position.
Parker made his second change of the game in the 68th minute as Marcondes was replaced by Tuesday night’s hero, Kieffer Moore. Gary Rowett made his final change for Millwall as Ryan Leonard was replaced by Tom Bradshaw
Lewis Cook received a standing ovation from the home crowd as Parker made his final change in the 76th minute, replacing him with Phillip Billing
Moore was the hero again as he grabbed the winner in the 81st minute. A Millwall corner went out for a throw in, and substitute Billing quickly launched the ball into the path of Tuesday night’s hero, who then smashed the ball into the top left corner causing Vitality Stadium to erupt and chants of “we are Premier League” cascade around the stadium.
Determined not to let their dream of promotion die, in the 83rd minute Oliver Burke burst through the middle of the park and smashed his shot wide of Travers’ near post
In the 85th minute, what can only be described as a bizarre lapse of concentration Phillips went to play the ball across goal but ended up nearly passing it into the back of his own net.
As the full-time whistle blew, Vitality Stadium erupted as the promotion party continues with Bournemouth finishing the season just two points of league winners, Fulham. Kieffer Moore was named as Bournemouth’s man of the match.