Fulham clinched a play-off place with a battling draw against promotion rivals Bristol Rovers on a sweltering afternoon at Twerton Park.
The Whites delivered a backs-to-the-wall display, with goalkeeper Jim Stannard their man-of-the-match, in a dreary draw that was short on quality but delivered just what manager Ray Lewington wanted. Rovers still need a point to make sure of a play-off place and London’s oldest professional outfit believe they could be heading back to the Second Division three years after they dropped out of the second tier.
Lewington told the press afterwards: “We came here to do a job and I am pleased with the way it went. It was never going to be a classic”. The Fulham boss savoured Stannard’s superb display, with the visiting goalkeeper making a string of fine saves to prevent an enterprising home side for stealing a march on his men in the ever-tightening promotion race.
Stannard made a superb stop to deny Gary Penrice as early as the third minute and produced an ever better one to keep out an effort from Christian McClean. Penrice missed the target altogether after outpacing Doug Rouvie to reach Ian Alexander’s pass before McClean had a header Rovers made most of the running but England under-21 international Nigel Martyn showed the agility that has top flight managers casting admiring glances in his direction when he made a word class save to repel a fierce effort from Justin Skinner four minutes into the second period.
BRISTOL ROVERS: Martyn; Twentyman, Yates, Alexander, Jones, Reece, Holloway, Mehew, McClean (White 63), Bailey, Penrice. Sub (not used): Clark.
BOOKED: White.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Thomas, Rougvie, Marshall, Scott, Skinner, Mauge, Walker, Cole, Davies (Elkins 75). Subs (not used): Wilson.
BOOKED: Roughvie.
REFEREE: Alan Seville (Birmingham).
ATTENDANCE: 7,302.
