Bournemouth strengthened their grip on the Championship summit this afternoon as goals from Yann Kermorgant and Harry Arter gave Eddie Howe's men a 2-0 victory over 10-man Millwall at The New Den.
Bournemouth looked to test Millwall's resolve in the opening minutes as the returning Kermorgant lashed towards the bottom corner from distance, forcing a good stop from a diving David Forde.
Youngster Sid Nelson was handed his professional debut for Millwall and the 18-year-old defender could have put the hosts into a lead, but he failed to head Lee Martin's cross on target from a set piece.
Back came Bournemouth, though, and they were close to opening the scoring when Matt Ritchie crossed for Callum Wilson, who guided his header wide from a mere six yards out.
The visitors were awarded a penalty in the 31st minute when Charlie Daniels was taken out by Martin, allowing Kermorgant to step up and convert the spot kick.
The Cherries made it 2-0 just before the interval when Wilson picked out Arter with a neat through ball, and he made no mistake by tucking into the bottom-right corner to make it five goals in five matches.
Marc Pugh appeared the most creative for the visitors in a lacklustre second half and he picked out Dan Gosling in the centre of the box, but the former Everton man could only muster a shot that went safely wide of the left post.
Bournemouth continued to seek to improve their goal difference and they may have gone one goal better had Wilson not passed up a perfectly decent headed chance with just under 15 minutes to play.
Any chance of a late Millwall fightback was scuppered with 10 minutes left as Shaun Williams saw red following an altercation with Wilson, leaving the league leaders to close out all three points with little trouble.
Christopher Dodd
