JORDAN Bowery’s last-gasp leveller earned Championship newcomers Rotherham a share of the spoils at Dean Court today.

The Millers substitute headed home a Paul Taylor corner in stoppage time to cancel out Steve Cook’s opener for Cherries.

Cook broke the deadlock when he met a Matt Ritchie cross on the hour, the goal seeming destined to win the day until Bowery’s intervention.

Matt Ritchie, Marc Pugh and Yann Kermorgant were restored to the starting line-up as Cherries boss Eddie Howe made three changes. The trio came in for Dan Gosling, Junior Stanislas and Ryan Fraser.

Cherries enjoyed the lion’s share of possession during the early stages, although chances were at a premium at both ends.

Yann Kermorgant seized on a stray pass and started a move which almost unlocked the Millers defence midway through the first half.

But after feeding Simon Francis on the right, the Frenchman arrived in the box and was unable to make good contact with the cross.

The first chance fell to the visitors after 38 minutes when Kari Arnason scooped the ball off target from close range after Craig Morgan had headed a Richard Smallwood free-kick into his path.

Another patient build up was thwarted when Eunan O’Kane’s shot from the edge of the 18-yard box was charged down by Millers midfielder Paul Green.

As a largely forgettable opening period drew to a close, Paul Taylor’s rasping drive flew well wide of Lee Camp’s left-hand post before Ritchie’s inswinging free-kick was punched clear by Rotherham goalkeeper Adam Collin.

Cherries had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Graham Horwood after Kermorgant had been wrestled to the ground by Joe Skarz at the start of the second half.

Callum Wilson went close to breaking the deadlock when he slid in to meet Kermorgant’s low cross, only for his effort to be stopped on the line by Collin.

And Wilson was again denied just seconds later after he had outstripped the Millers defence, the striker’s shot coming back off the post.

Cherries were rewarded for their early second-half endeavours when Cook headed home the opener 15 minutes after the interval.

The defender climbed at the far post to squeeze the ball past Collin after meeting Ritchie’s inviting cross, with Harry Arter pivotal in the build up.

Kermorgant, who hurt himself when he fell awkwardly following a headed clearance, was replaced by Brett Pitman after 69 minutes.

As the visitors went in search of an equaliser, Alex Revell failed to make contact with a low cross from Matt Derbyshire before Cherries substitute Pitman fired straight at defender Morgan.

Rotherham levelled deep into stoppage time when Bowery’s header from a Taylor corner found its way past Camp and into the back of the net.

Cherries: Camp, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie (Surman, 90), O’Kane, Arter, Pugh (Fraser, 83), Kermorgant (Pitman, 69), Wilson. Unused subs: Harte, Stanislas, Smith, Flahavan (g/k).

Booked: Fraser.

Millers: Collin, Richardson, Morgan, Arnason, Skarz, Pringle (Derbyshire, 65), Smallwood, Green, Clarke-Harris (Bowery, 55), Taylor, Becchio (Revell, 50). Unused subs: Broadfoot, Frecklington, Wordsworth, Loach (g/k).

Booked: Skarz, Smallwood.

Referee: Graham Horwood (Bedfordshire) Attendance: 8,480 (including 492 away supporters).