LIKE so many teams in the Championship, Cherries will be imagining the Utopian scenario in which everything comes together as it should.

Any number of managers could argue that the tiniest of margins and a lack of luck has been the barrier between them and a loftier perch in the congested, ultra-competitive second tier.

But on the back of a swathe of dominant performances, particularly on home soil, it is much easier to visualise Cherries sitting pretty with a nice, plump cushion at the top of the table.

The disappointing fact is that the loss of 12 points from winning positions at Dean Court is the primary reason why they are fourth.

Cherries have taken the lead in all 10 home Championship matches so far this season but have gone on to win just half.

It is equally important to remember that Eddie Howe’s men are way ahead of schedule. No mention of the pre-season fears about second-season syndrome or a hangover following Lewis Grabban’s departure is testament to that.

But as the hopes of the world and his wife swiftly evolve into expectation, the frustration at how Cherries have loosened their stranglehold on games has become increasingly palpable.

Seven straight wins from the start of October seemed like a sure-fire indication that Cherries had exorcised the ghosts of Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.

Even after Ipswich had battled back for a share of the spoils, the early-season jitters had been overcome, right?

Maybe not. Two goals to the good and in cruise control against Millwall, the manner of this most recent setback highlighted an area for concern.

Without being at their most fluent, Cherries displayed enough style and invention to look a class above the Lions during the first half. Indeed, had they taken their chances before the break, shipping two late goals would have been irritating rather than decisive.

Steve Cook’s thumping header from a Brett Pitman corner got the better of former Cherries loanee David Forde as early as the eighth minute but the effort flew narrowly wide of the upright.

Cherries continued to push in fits and starts with the effervescent Matt Ritchie swinging a curling effort just wide of Forde’s upright before Yann Kermorgant wasted a golden opportunity from close quarters.

But the deadlock was finally broken midway through the first half with a sumptuous team goal. Charlie Daniels dinked forward for Kermorgant to nod back to Andrew Surman.

The ex-Norwich man evaded his marker with a delightful flick before weighting a perfectly-flighted ball to the back post for Cook to crash home.

Millwall’s sturdy resolve deserted them after the opener and Ritchie’s direct run and beautiful reverse pass soon set up the second as Pitman, in for injured leading scorer Callum Wilson, notched his sixth of the campaign with a well-timed run and deft touch past Forde which left the visitors reeling.

However, boss Ian Holloway restored the Lions’ pride during the interval and made a key change with the introduction of battering ram Ricardo Fuller.

Cherries got drawn into a more physical battle and struggled to impose their natural passing game with Fuller proving a constant thorn in their side, particularly in the right channel.

The former Stoke striker’s clipped effort drifted just wide, while Martyn Woolford should have pulled one back for the Lions with a header from an inswinging free-kick.

Cherries did not heed the warning with Ed Upson heading straight at Artur Boruc from a similar position and marauding full-back Alan Dunne stinging the Polish keeper’s palms with a long-distance piledriver.

But while the pressure increased, the hosts still looked comfortable enough until their defence was breached with 15 minutes to play.

Unsurprisingly, Fuller provided the graft by battling for possession and clearing the path for Jermaine Easter to deliver a cross from the right which Upson steered home with his head.

The nervy hosts had an escape when Boruc almost carried the ball over the line amid the chaos following Lee Gregory’s effort from an Easter corner, while Cherries substitute Junior Stanislas and Pitman somehow contrived to spurn a match-winning opportunity on the break.

Ryan Fraser took out a retreating Millwall backline with a tidy throughball which allowed Stanislas and Pitman to bear down on Forde unchallenged.

Pitman took the pass and rolled to his team-mate for a tap in but the eager Stanislas had inexplicably strayed offside.

And how Cherries paid the price.

Millwall sent a hopeful clump forward from deep towards Fuller who appeared to back into Tommy Elphick. The ball landed kindly for Gregory whose snapshot was charged down by Cook, only for substitute Magaye Gueye to rifle home the rebound.

Crestfallen Cook could not bear to look up for a few seconds. From sealing the deal to receiving the killer blow, all in the blink of an eye.

All is not lost, of course, but how Cherries deal with direct opponents who bypass the midfield, especially when their usually-crisp passing goes awry, will almost definitely define their promotion bid.

Star man - Matt Ritchie

On an afternoon where Cherries did not quite sustain their usual rhythm, Ritchie carried the fight and kept his team on the front foot.

As always, he teamed up so well with right-sided comrade Simon Francis to terrorise Millwall at every opportunity.

Even as he tired, Ritchie kept plugging away with a creative element that Lions found so hard to predict, let alone deal with with much success.

Every member of Cherries’ team will undoubtedly look back on this display and consider what they might have done better but Ritchie’s magic might have won it, even without firing on all cylinders for 90 minutes.

Match facts

Cherries: Boruc 6.5, Francis 7, Cook 7.5, Elphick 6.5, Daniels 7, Ritchie 8, Arter 7 (O’Kane, 65), Surman 7.5, Pugh 7 (Stanislas, 61), Kermorgant 6.5 (Fraser, 78), Pitman 7.

Unused subs: Gosling, Smith, Cargill, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Pugh.

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Webster, Beevers (Fuller, h-t), Malone, Martin (Easter, 19), Williams, McDonald, Upson, Woolford (Gueye, 75), Gregory.

Unused subs: Powell, Martinez, Shittu, King (g/k).

Booked: Upson, Woolford, Webster.

Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire).

Attendance: 10,016 (including 991 away supporters).