Millwall’s hopes of reaching the Championship were dashed on the final day of the Championship season as Bournemouth were 1-0 winners at the Vitality Stadium.
The Lions needed other results to go their way and also beat their opponents, who had sealed the second automatic promotion spot in midweek.
But Kieffer Moore, a transfer target for Millwall before he joined Cardiff City, scored in the 81st minute. Philip Billing’s quick throw in sent his fellow sub racing through on goal and the Wales international – who had Jaidon Anthony waiting for a tap in – finishing emphatically past Bart Bialkowski.
In the end it proved academic with Luton Town winning 1-0 at home against Reading while Sheffield United thrashed champions Fulham 4-0 to seal sixth and fifth spot respectively.
Millwall dropped to ninth in the final standings after Blackburn won 2-1 at Birmingham City.
The travelling Lions fans applauded their players when they went over at the full-time whistle and chanted to Jed Wallace, a free agent this summer, that they wanted him to stay.