Lions submit on the coast to Anderton class

Coca Cola League One

MILLWALL'S unbeaten run of four games came to an end at Dean Court.

The home side scored the only goal of the game after 18 minutes when Darren Anderton found the back of the net with a stunning volley.

Bournemouth, battling to avoid relegation, started the brightest and had the first shot on goal after five minutes when James Hayter's effort from the edge of the penalty area went wide, with keeper Lenny Pidgeley scrambling across his goal.

The Lions mounted an attack but Tom Brighton shot over from 20 yards.

Steve Fletcher was getting the better of the aerial battle against Richard Shaw, with one of his knockdowns setting up Hayter for another shot wide on eight minutes.

But the home side took the lead after pressure down the Bournemouth left wing.

A cross into the box put Pidgeley under pressure as the keeper went for the ball with Fletcher.

He managed to punch the ball out of the area, only for Anderton to show why he played for England, volleying home from the edge of the area.

Anderton's technique showed through as a difficult finish was made to look easy.

Bournemouth almost doubled their lead a few minutes later, with Anderton again influential.

His corner set up Josh Gowling, whose near post shot was blocked.

Anderton was thriving in his central midfield role, ghosting in and around the edge of the area to support his strikers and playing a range of precise passes throughout the match to keep the home team's momentum going.

The Lions gradually got into the game, mainly through the pairing of Chris Hackett and Alan Dunne down the right.

But they were getting no joy down the left wing and a series of sloppy passes resulted in a number of chances to break going begging.

Dunne had the best chance to equalise, breaking down the right and into the penalty area before dragging his shot wide of the post.

Bournemouth went into the break 1-0 up, forcing Willie Donachie into some changes.

On came Poul Hubertz to replsced Brighton, with Neil Harris moving to the left.

This helped Tony Craig get forward but as The Lions pressed for an equaliser, Bournemouth had chances to add a second goal.

David McGoldrick managed to twist and turn his way through the Lions' defence, but he lacked conviction with his finishing.

He shot over the bar on 47 minutes and shot softly straight at Pidgeley a few minutes later.

Millwall were winning more of the ball in the air with Hubertz, but were struggling to force Neil Moss into a save, as Gowling and Neil Young were in good form at the heart of the Bournemouth defence.

On one of the few times Darren Byfield lost his marker, he fizzed a cross into the area but there was no blue shirt on hand to turn it in.

A minute later Marvin Elliott's shot ended up hitting Byfield and looping just wide - it just wasn't Millwall's day.

McGoldrick had two more chances to seal the win for Bournemouth, seeing a shot blocked on 80 minutes before a Paul Robinson mistake put the youngster clean through on goal six minutes from time.

But the striker dithered on the ball, giving Robinson enough time his sliding tackle to perfection, avoiding giving away a penalty and earning himself an early bath.

Bournemouth held on for the win, boosting their survival chances and leaving The Lions frustrated they hadn't forced Moss into a save.

MATCH FACTS:

MILLWALL: Pidgeley, Dunne, Robinson, Shaw, Craig, Hackett, Elliot, Brammer, Brighton (Hubertz, 45), Harris, Byfield.

SUBS NOT USED: Day, Ashton, Ardley, Zebroski ATT: 7,194.