The Cherries went into the game looking to build on another impressive win midweek which saw them progress through to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy quarter finals, knocking out holders MK Dons. Rotherham also produced an upset in midweek beating League One Leeds United 4-2 at home so it always promised to be a tight affair.

Match Sponsor: Fleet Personal
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Match Programme Sponsor: GSG Generator Solutions Group

Michael Rankine started to make his Cherries debut after arriving from Rushden & Diamonds in the week he replaced the injured Jeff Goulding while Joel Ward came in for the ill Warren Cummings and both were involved in an early chance for Bournemouth.

Ward made ground down the right and produced a deep cross which was expertly bought down by Lee Bradbury who fired a volley toward goal only for his effort to be block on the line, the block fell the debutant Rankine whose effort was clear falling to Bradbury again who smash a shot onto the post from a tight angle ten yards out.

Skipper Darren Anderton threaten to make it two goals in two games but his shot was punched away by 'keeper Warrington on twenty minutes.

The visitors failed to produce any clear cut chances and it was the Cherries who continuously pressured the Millers' goal. On 42 minutes Joel Ward neatly turned his man in the box, smashing a right footed shot across goal, only for Rotherham goalkeeper Andy Warrington to again block the effort, this time with his legs.

Rotherham's first real effort on goal came in the 44 minutes. After a corner was cleared from the right hand side the ball fell to Micky Cummins on the edge of the box. He unleashed an effort which travelled through a number of bodies in the box, but Shwan Jalal was up to the task and comfortably collected the ball.

Alex Rhodes forced Jalal again into action after the break, his volley was blocked by the stretching goalkeeper. Another volley effort came close soon after this time in the Cherries favour, Sammy Igoe's shot drifted just wide of the post.

Anderton came close with four minutes to play when his effort smashed the inside of the post just before he was announced as Fleet Personal's Man of the Match. Deep into injury time Marvin Bartley was fouled on the edge of the box, Anderton stepped up but it wasn't to be as his free kick was blocked by the wall and the deadline failed to be broken.

Final Score: AFC Bournemouth 0  - 0  Rotherham United

Bournemouth: Jalal, Guyett, Cooper, Pearce, Bartley, Igoe (Pitman 64), Anderton, Hollands, Ward, Bradbury, Rankine (McQuoid 83).
Unused Subs: Pryce, Sturrock, Partington.

Rotherham United: Warrington, Tonge, Nicholas, Fenton (Joseph 51), Sharps, Hudson (Harrison 84), Mills, Cummins, Reid, Broughton (Barker 64), Rhodes
Unused Subs: Cann, Burchill.