PHILIP Billing’s third goal of the season ensured Cherries made it three wins out of four under caretaker manager Jonathan Woodgate.

The towering Dane’s first-half strike settled the contest at Vitality Stadium, as the Dorset club overcame Rotherham 1-0 in the Championship.

It was also a third clean sheet on the bounce for Cherries after shutouts against Burnley and Nottingham Forest.

Cherries made four changes from the side that recorded a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest last time out.

Lloyd Kelly, Lewis Cook, Sam Surridge and Billing were recalled by Woodgate. Jack Wilshere, Shane Long and Ben Pearson dropped to the bench.

Skipper Steve Cook missed out with an adductor injury.

Rotherham came into the contest on a three-match winning away run.

Visiting boss Paul Warne named former Cherries star Shaun MacDonald on the bench for the Millers.

Midfielder Lewis Wing was also part of the visitors’ line-up, a player Woodgate had during his time in charge at Middlesbrough.

And it was Wing’s delivery that caused Cherries a problem after 13 minutes.

His inswinging corner was beaten away by Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic - the Bosnian captaining the hosts in the absence of Cook.

Cherries’ first chance came on 17 minutes. Arnaut Danjuma switched the ball on to his right foot and struck a tame effort into the clutches of keeper Viktor Johansson.

But the breakthrough was to come for the hosts on 23 minutes. A slick counter-attack saw Surridge pick out Adam Smith on the overlap, who had initially won the ball back in the first place.

The full-back’s measured cutback was perfect for the run of Billing, who took a touch before coolly slotting into the net with his left foot.

Rotherham then looked to respond. Michael Smith’s cross was met by forward Matt Crooks. He tried to roll his man before blasting into the side netting from an acute angle.

The Millers then should have been level before the interval. After Danjuma fouled Matt Olosunde on the edge of the box, the resulting free-kick was swung onto the head of Dan Barlaser.

He presented skipper Richard Wood with an opportunity from inside the six-yard box, only for the centre-back to put it over.

Rotherham still threatened after the break. Begovic spread himself to deny Crooks from point-blank range after he had ghosted into the box, only to be then flagged offside.

Woodgate then looked to the bench and switched Danjuma with David Brooks just after the hour mark.

But it was Begovic who kept Cherries in front after a sublime save with just less than 25 minutes remaining.

The former Chelsea man flew to his left to tip the ball away with his right hand, after Ben Wiles’s fierce volley looked destined for the top corner.

A huge chance then went the way of the Millers with just 11 minutes remaining.

Frontman Freddie Ladapo, who scored twice when the sides last met, blazed over after being put through having just come off the bench.

But Woodgate’s men, who had a Junior Stanislas effort saved in stoppage time, saw out the contest to close to eight points the gap on the Championship automatic promotion places.

Cherries: Begovic, Smith, Carter-Vickers, Kelly, Rico, Lerma, L Cook (Pearson, 87), Billing, Danjuma (Brooks, 62), Surridge, Stanislas.

Unused subs: Mepham, Wilshere, Long, Riquelme, Anthony, Zemura, Travers (g/k).

Booked: None.

Rotherham: Johansson, Ihiekwe, Wood, Robertson, Olosunde (Giles, 78), Barlaser (Jozefzoon, 69), Wing (Ladapo, 78), Wiles, Harding (A MacDonald, 87), Smith (Hirst, 78), Crooks.

Unused subs: S MacDonald, Sadlier, Clarke, Blackman (g/k).

Booked: Wiles, Harding, Smith.

Referee: Keith Stroud.