Bournemouth strike late to end Millwall play-off dream

Millwall suffered final-day disappointment as Kieffer Moore's late goal sent them to a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth and ended their play-off dreams.

Gary Rowett's side went into their last Sky Bet Championship match of the season needing a win and hoping other results went their way to seal a top-six finish.

But despite a spirited effort they came up just short as they were unable to break down a Cherries side still putting on a display despite securing promotion to the Premier League in midweek.

There was little choice for Millwall at the start than to concentrate only on what they could do - and that meant starting committed, though not gambling too much and leaving themselves exposed at the back.

The Cherries were the quickest to settle into an attacking rhythm and Jaidon Anthony looped the first attempt on goal just wide as the promoted team began brightly.

Robbie Brady and Dominic Solanke also saw efforts from the edge of the area drift across the face of goal as Bournemouth made most of the early running.

But as news drifted around the Vitality Stadium of Middlesbrough's struggles, so Millwall began to gain a footing in the match.

Oliver Burke and Benik Afobe started to move the home defence around and Rowett's side started to show signs they were in with a sniff of getting the result they so desperately needed.

And on 32 minutes the South Londoners wasted a glorious chance to get themselves ahead.

George Saville skipped down the left and whipped in a cross that found captain Jake Cooper unmarked arriving at the far post, but with the goal at his mercy he could only loop a header two yards over the crossbar.

There was little option but to start going for it after the break, and Millwall appealed for a penalty in the