Elphick’s goal pushes Evans to the brink
Rotherham Bournemouth
TOMMY ELPHICK scored his first goal in nine months to put Bournemouth clear at the top.
Callum Wilson also weighed in with his 14th goal of the season as the Cherries ruled the New York Stadium again.
They have now kept 14 clean sheets and scored 32 away goals, including 17 in their last five games on the road.
Rotherham’s only consolation was that Bournemouth did not match the five they hammered here in the FA Cup two weeks ago. However, Millers boss Steve Evans is in trouble amid rumours after the final whistle that his time is up.
Wilson had an early effort disallowed for a foul on Craig Morgan and how he did not win a second-half penalty is anybody’s guess.
The livewire striker was fed in by Matt Ritchie and home keeper Adam Collin definitely appeared to haul him down.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe said: “Callum’s goal could have stood for sure, it was a tough call. My view was blocked but I saw his legs go from under him – and the reaction of the bench was that it was a penalty.”
Relegation-threatened Rotherham gambled by giving two players debuts and home debuts for another three new signings.
Shocker
But despite a lively first half, especially by Huddersfield loan signing Adam Hammill, the Millers never looked in with a shout.
Evans maintained: “We have played well against an exceptional side but the official had an absolute shocker from start to finish.
“But I could not have asked for any more from my team in terms of effort and determination. We will be OK going forward.”
Rotherham’s starting line-up had a total of just two goals between them this season. Bournemouth’s had a whopping 48.
Their only player who had not scored was skipper Elphick – and the centre-half put paid to that in the dying seconds of the first half.
His header, from a Charlie Daniels freekick, went in off the post to give him only his fourth league goal for the Cherries.
Marc Pugh had already gone close and it looked only a matter of time before the leaders extended their advantage.
It was not pretty when it came, Brett Pitman scrabbling on the ground with Collin before getting the ball clear for Wilson.
But Howe did not care, and admitted: “It certainly wasn’t one that we will be playing over and over – but it’s as vitally important as any other goal.”