Cherries go marching on in fine style

BOURNEMOUTH took a huge step towards sealing a play-off place by thrashing MILLWALL 4-1 at the Den to move up to third in the Championship. Jonathan Woodgate’s men were in sparkling form as they registered their seventh straight league victory thanks to goals from Philip Billing — his fifth in seven league games — Arnaut Danjuma, David Brooks and Dominic Solanke. Jed Wallace managed a consolation for Millwall but they offered little going forward. Mid-season managerial changes are often scoffed at but BIRMINGHAM’S decision to appoint Lee Bowyer with 10 games to go is looking a shrewd one. Sitting just three points clear of the bottom three with fans angered at Aitor Karanka’s negative style, the Blues poached Bowyer from Charlton. And after last night’s 1-1 draw at home to NOTTINGHAM FOREST, Birmingham are 10 points clear of Rotherham in 22nd and virtually safe after losing just one of Bowyer’s first seven matches in charge. Birmingham defender Marc Roberts scored with a header from an Ivan Sanchez corner but Lewis Grabban equalised with a 99th-minute penalty. Adebayo Akinfenwa’s stoppagetime penalty gave bottom club WYCOMBE a lifeline as they secured a dramatic 2-1 home win over BRISTOL CITY. In the final moments Wycombe goalkeeper David Stockdale came up for a corner and had a shot handled. Veteran Akinfenwa, 38, stepped up to score his first-ever goal in the second tier.