AFC Bournemouth returned to Dean Court on Saturday to round off the 2021/22 Championship promotion-winning campaign with the final game of the season against Millwall.
The visitors held a slim hope of still reaching the play-offs, but they would need all three points and for results to go their way elsewhere.
AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker opted to strike a balance between rotating his side a little, following the crucial promotion-winning game against Nottingham Forest, but still selecting a side capable of winning the fixture.
In came Gavin Kilkenny for the injured Jefferson Lerma, with Philip Billing and Ryan Christie dropping out of the side in favour of Emiliano Marcondes and Robbie Brady.
However, the stage was set once again for substitute Kieffer Moore…
After the game, Parker told Sky Sports…
“I wanted to make sure that my team produced the performance objectives, in terms of we had things to play for – the record of clean sheets today in this division. Can we get a clean sheet to be the team that have the most clean sheets in his division? Can we be the team that have conceded the least amount of goals? Can we be the team that have lost the least amount of games in this division as well?
“One million per cent we are going to need to build on that because we’re going into a division next year that is ruthless, is clinical. It’s another 10 steps up, the gap between the Championship and the Premier League. It is vast, we’re going to need to build our game on a real solidness as a team, not just the keeper and a back four really. As a unit, as a team. We’re going to need to give ourselves a constant solid foundation really so it puts us in good stead in saying that we’re going to face some challenges, of course we are.”
Man of the match against Millwall
Phillips
Smith
Kelly
Zemura
Travers
Kilkenny
Moore
Billing
Someone else
The gaffer sums it up ππ
— AFC Bournemouth π (@afcbournemouth) May 7, 2022
After the match, AFC Bournemouth were presented with a Championship promotion-winning trophy and their players were given their medals.
ππ’ππ‘π π pic.twitter.com/XvD2qELdrG
— AFC Bournemouth π (@afcbournemouth) May 7, 2022
Your skipper β€οΈ pic.twitter.com/Ns9SHbBYsd
— AFC Bournemouth π (@afcbournemouth) May 7, 2022
Goooood morning β€οΈ pic.twitter.com/ynq5VMdgeR
— AFC Bournemouth π (@afcbournemouth) May 8, 2022
"They've been right behind us all the way"
Scott Parker says the Bournemouth fans can make the difference next season as the Cherries return to the Premier League ππ #afcb π pic.twitter.com/99kr71fXZJ
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) May 7, 2022
"This is the exact reason I wanted to come down here…to achieve success"
A glowing Ryan Christie spoke to @kristemple after Bournemouth signed off the season with three points
Listen to reaction from the #afcb man ππ pic.twitter.com/XXOUoUc0wi
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) May 7, 2022
Written by billythekid
Well, that was a nice restful afternoon, the usual Kieffer Moore goal and we had another disallowed.
At the final whistle, everyone remained in the stands including the Millwall fans and after they gradually drifted away, we finally had the presentations etc.
It was just an end of season game, defences dominated and only a breakaway by us with two of our players and only their goalkeeper to stop a goal, Moore advanced and hit the back of the net with a cool finish.
And to round the afternoon off nicely Fulham lost and we finished on 88 points two behind Fulham and our team of 2014-15.
Now we look forward to next season and the Premier League.
Well done Scott Parker and his team. – Join the conversation, click here.
Lads, we are SO proud of you β€οΈ pic.twitter.com/Saso59wgfN
— AFC Bournemouth Academy (@afcb_academy) May 7, 2022
El Pulpo content >>>>>> pic.twitter.com/lAlvvcYXCy
— AFC Bournemouth π (@afcbournemouth) May 7, 2022
"It's really special to get it over the line"
Bournemouth keeper @marktravers40 paid tribute to his defenders as he received the EFL Golden Glove award π§€
Listen to his reaction, speaking to @kristemple π pic.twitter.com/6Hy25ppJIi
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) May 7, 2022
Your say…
langham said…
Millwall a poor outfit today – and shows the difference between our quality and most of the also-runs. Millwall were rigid, unoriginal and slow; in the last 20 minutes we had several fast breaks and were very unlucky not to score at least two more.
A satisfying end to the season and a well-managed awards ceremony. The last few weeks have seen a real bonding between fans, players and the manager – a shame that in our mini-ground there was just the regular attendance to witness the game and the afters. DC expansion a priority – come on, letβs do it.
EverHopeful wrote…
Really enjoyable game although I (bizarrely!) missed the tension of a must-win. Thought Scott Parker and the team were very professional, approached the match correctly and put in an excellent performance. My, how good is Jordan Zemura? Those barnstorming runs down the wing were fantastic. At one point we had JZ, Jaidon Anthony and Sirike Dembele bombing down the left and they couldnβt live with it. Very excited to see how our young players develop in the Premier League.
What an opportunity for them! Thought Lewis Cook was class again today. My MOTM by a distance. Loved Kiefferβs finish though! Great to see SP beaming at the South Stand after the match and so relaxed. Am glad heβs enjoying it. What a reception he received and what an end to the season he has had. Weβve finished strongly. Letβs take that into next season. UTC!! – Join the conversation, click here.
π The final standings!#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/BGnwFgZwPQ
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 7, 2022
