Rotherham United vs Bournemouth. Sky Bet Championship.
AESSEAL New York StadiumAttendance9,157.
Sunday 18 January 2015 16:53, UK
Goals from Tommy Elphick and Callum Wilson secured Sky Bet Championship leaders Bournemouth a 2-0 win at Rotherham United.
Just a fortnight ago Bournemouth dumped Rotherham out of the FA Cup with a 5-1 thrashing and the visiting supporters again left the AES Seal New York Stadium happy.
Both teams were much changed since that meeting, with Rotherham handing out five home debuts and the Cherries picking the bulk of the side that has served them well all season.
Wilson had an early strike chalked off for a foul in the build-up as Bournemouth made the better start to the match.
One of the home side's debutants, Zeki Fryers, then had to react quickest to block Harry Arter's goal-bound shot from a quickly taken free kick.
Rotherham responded with loanee Jack Barmby putting in a cross that Paul Green headed off-target.
Barmby then found himself in a shooting position on the edge of the box but was eventually marshalled out of play by Simon Francis.
As the rain began to pour, Bournemouth improved their passing and could have gone ahead just after the half-hour mark when Matt Ritchie stood up a cross that Marc Pugh headed just wide of the angle of post and bar.
Pugh then teed up Wilson with a well-placed pass but the striker's effort drew a good save from Rotherham goalkeeper Adam Collin.
Lee Camp was then busy at the other end as he palmed out Adam Hammill's low strike from 25 yards. Moments later Barmby dragged a shot from similar distance just wide of the post.
However, Bournemouth took the lead two minutes into added time at the end of the first half when Elphick rose highest to head in Charlie Daniels' centre off the post.
Wilson thought he had earned the visitors a penalty early in the second half after he rounded Collin and fell to the ground – but his appeals were ignored by both the referee and his assistant.
Bournemouth's second goal on 62 minutes typified the scrappy nature of the second half. Wilson eventually tapped in following an almighty scramble at the front post that the Rotherham defence really ought to have cleared.
Brett Pitman fired a free kick just wide as the buoyant visiting side went in search of more goals, before Rotherham substitute Conor Newton had two wayward efforts on goal.
Green also tried his luck after being found by substitute Rob Milsom but his effort flew over the bar.
The away players made the most of opportunities to run down the clock in the final stages to ensure their unbeaten away run in the league was stretched to nine games.
