Laird, who has overcome his recent injury setbacks to make six appearances since his loan switch across the division from Swansea City in January, watched on from the dugout at the Vitality Stadium where Kieffer Moore’s 83rd-minute strike was the difference.
Having secured the Championship’s second and final automatic promotion spot with a game to spare, the Cherries will now return to the division alongside Fulham next season, who clinched the second-tier title on Monday evening.
The stakes were certainly high under the lights on the south coast, with the Championship’s second and third place teams going head-to-head, separated by just three points at kick-off.