MARK Hudson’s first-half strike condemned Cherries to a fourth successive league defeat on another dark day for the ailing Dorset outfit.

The Rotherham midfielder’s well-taken 18th-minute effort plunged Cherries even deeper into the League Two relegation mire, leaving them 10 points adrift of safety.

And to compound their misery, Danny Hollands was sent off midway through the second half after picking up two quick bookings.

New loan signings David Button, Rhoys Wiggins and Jake Thomson were all drafted in as Howe made three changes to the Cherries starting line-up.

Spurs stopper Button replaced Shwan Jalal, Crystal Palace defender Wiggins came in for Warren Cummings and Saints midfielder Thomson for Mark Molesley.

Button, 19, was handed his full league debut, with Jalal and Molesley both dropping down to the bench and Cummings sidelined through injury.

Following a cagey start, Joe Partington blazed the first chance high over the crossbar after Lee Bradbury’s free kick had only been half cleared to the edge of the box.

A sharp turn of pace from Thomson ended with his deep cross from the right being met by Hollands, only for his header to be deflected for a corner.

Despite enjoying the majority of the early possession, Cherries were rocked when the Millers took the lead through Hudson after 18 minutes.

The midfielder netted with a crisp left-foot volley after Hollands’s clearance had fallen invitingly for him just outside the 18-yard box.

Cherries then had an escape when Button spilled a free kick under pressure from Drewe Broughton, with Micky Cummins lofting the loose ball over the crossbar.

With chances at a premium, Broughton temporarily relieved the tedium when his shot drifted past the upright after 36 minutes before an effort from Hudson sailed over the bar.

As the hosts pressed for a second goal towards the end of the first half, Ryan Taylor sliced a good chance well wide following a corner from Green.

Broughton missed a sitter when he failed to connect with Hudson’s probing free kick with the goal gaping before Button saved Cherries’ bacon in injury time.

A well-worked short corner routine ended with former Cherries loan star Nick Fenton’s bullet header from point-blank range being superbly parried by the young goalkeeper.

Alan Connell and Joel Ward replaced Partington and Scott Guyett at the interval as Howe opted to switch to a 4-4-2 formation.

And Ward almost netted with his first touch, his header from Hollands’s 49th-minute corner snaffled low down by Millers goalkeeper David Stockdale at his near post.

Cherries suffered a double blow on 63 minutes when Bradbury was injured following a tackle on Green before Hollands was dismissed for a foul on the same player.

Booked just two minutes earlier, Hollands was shown a second yellow card after felling the midfielder – just seconds after Bradbury had been hurt trying to stop Green in his tracks.

As Hollands trudged disconsolately towards the dressing rooms, Bradbury soon followed, aided by Cherries physio Steve Hard.

Button came to Cherries’ rescue when he saved smartly from Dale Tonge before a wasted free kick by the visitors was greeted with chants of “what a load of rubbish” from some travelling supporters.

In the closing stages, Green clipped the crossbar after being teed up by Hudson before Molesley could have nicked a point for Cherries, only to slide his shot agonisingly wide of the post following Pitman’s cross.

Connell thought he had levelled for Cherries in injury time, but despite beating Stockdale from close range, his strike was ruled out for offside.

And in a frantic finish, a shot from Jason Pearce was parried by Stockdale before the hosts also survived a couple of late corners.

Cherries (4-5-1): Button; Bradbury (Molesley, 65), Guyett (Ward, h-t), Pearce, Wiggins; Thomson, Bartley, Cooper, Partington (Connell, h-t), Hollands; Pitman.

Unused subs: Garry, Jalal (g/k).

Booked: Hollands, Pitman.

Sent off: Hollands.

Rotherham (4-4-2): Stockdale; Tonge, Sharps, Fenton, Nicholas; Cummins, J Taylor (Harrison, 76), Hudson, Green; Broughton (R Taylor, 65), Reid (Burchill, 65).

Unused subs: Lynch, Warrington (g/k).

Referee: Steve Bratt (West Midlands).

Attendance: 3,270 (inc 185 away supporters).