Devon White’s double helped Bristol Rovers register a vital win over Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon and give their promotion push a shot in the arm.

The first half was short on quality in the final third with both sides creating one clear-cut chance each. White appeared set to flick the ball over Laurence Batty and into an unguarded net until Mark Newson appeared from nowhere to clear the danger just in time from underneath his own crossbar. At the other end, Steve Milton swung over a left-wing cross after a promising move and Gordon Davies hit the far post with a diving header.

The home side began purposefully in the second period but were beaten just before the hour mark. Phil Purnell robbed John Marshall of possession and found White in the area with a raking long price. The deadly striker, so often the scourge of Fulham, fired home a right-footed finish from close range. It was almost two four minutes later but Batty did brilliantly to deny David Mehew.

Fulham drew level rather fortuitously fifteen minutes later. Ronnie Mauge found Martin Pike on the left and his cross came to Clive Walker, whose mishit shot rebounded off Geoff Twentyman, onto the post and over the line. Reading goalkeeper Brian Parkin then made excellent saves to keep out Pike and a piledriver from Walker, before the visitors regained the lead on the break ten minutes from time. A through ball from Ian Holloway had the home defence at sixes and sevens and White smashed home the winner off the underside of the crossbar.

FULHAM: Batty; Eckhardt, Nebbeling, Pike, Marshall (Barnett 74), Newson, Scott, Mauge, Walker, Davies, Milton. Subs (not used): Bremner.

BOOKED: Newson.

GOAL: Walker (72).

BRISTOL ROVERS: Parkin; Twentyman, Yates, Jones, Alexander, Purnell, Reece, Holloway, Mehew (Sealy 77), Saunders, White. Subs (not used): Willmott.

GOALS: White (59, 80).

ATTENDANCE: 5,656.