Bournemouth were given a test they didn't really want at Rotherham. While Junior Stanislas scored first from the penalty spot, a couple of goals from Freddie Ladapo either side of half-time gave the Millers a 2-1 lead and the Cherries faced the possibility of a second defeat. A double change, seeing Diego Rico and Sam Surridge come on the pitch, led to Dominic Solanke heading in an equaliser, leaving Bournemouth with half an hour to try and get a winner. It didn't come and Bournemouth had to settle for the point.
Bournemouth made two changes which gave the team a less attacking feel. Out came Arnaut Danjuma and Lewis Cook, and they were replaced by Dan Gosling and Philip Billing. It was perhaps surprising that Riquelme who is an out and out winger didn't get a start ahead of Philip Billing with Danjuma being unavailable. Danjuma tweeted he would be back in the blink of an eye as it was only a very minor reason why he was out of the squad.
It was up to David Brooks to carry much of the running threat that Danjuma would usually bring to the game. But Dominic Solanke was putting himself about and had the first Bournemouth shot, while Junior Stanislas was also very much involved in Bournemouth going forward. Junior had the opportunity to put the Cherries 0-1 up when Solanke was fouled in the box by Jamal Blackman and he scored down the centre of the goal on 18 minutes.
Rotherham almost found a way to equalise when Begovic had to make a great tip-over save from Jamie Lindsay's header on 22 minutes. It was followed by a chance for Michael Smith who headed wide. The Millers did get back on level-terms when Bournemouth lost the ball in midfield and Mattock's cross was converted at the near post by Freddie Ladapo on 35 minutes.
Stanislas could have put Bournemouth back ahead at the end of the first half when he was through with Olosunde in close attendance, holding Junior's arm as he got a tackle in. Stanislas then came close with a shot that almost sneaked in at the post.
Bournemouth came out meaning business in the second half with Stanislas making Blackman have to get down to save straight away, but Bournemouth found themselves 2-1 down when Freddie Ladapo scored his second with chip, come cross, that looped up over Begovic on 50 minutes.
Tindall subbed Dan Gosling and Adam Smith on 61 minutes and brought on Sam Surridge and Diego Rico. Rico crossed straightaway and Solanke headed in for the equaliser on 62 minutes.
Angus MacDonald went close with a scissor kick that Begovic saved before the follow up was flagged for offside. Solanke then missed a chance to go around Blackman in the Rotherham goal. An audacious chip from Lerma just a few metres into the Rotherham half sailed perilously close to going in with Blackman off his line, but the winning goal didn't come.
Summary
Bournemouth probably got out of jail with this result. They don't look to be the complete package without Danjuma and Lewis Cook. The run of games is hard in the Championship and it is relentless. Rotherham United are fighting for their lives and with the crosses that Mattock was putting in, Begovic had to be at his best. Junior Stanislas is playing some great football and Dominic Solanke is showing he can score goals at this level, but there are some issues in Bournemouth's defence of crosses and they were exposed in this game. Luckily Norwich City also slipped up and it just closes up the top six with Watford winning their game.
Rotherham Subs: 1 Johansson, 5 Jones, Clarke, 5 Thompson, 26 Barlaser, 14 Miller,
28 Jozefzoon, 7 Vassel, 9 Hirst
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