First-half goals from strike duo Paul Tait and Giuliano Grazioli gave Bristol Rovers a deserved win against Bury.

Tait ran onto Grazioli's pass to lash home a seventh-minute shot and returned the favour by providing the long ball from which his partner broke away to make it 2-0 after 44 minutes.

Bury were second best for most of the game, but rallied with an injury-time strike by Pawel Abbott after which assistant boss Graham Barrow was banished from the dugout for dissent.

Rovers were sharper to the ball after the confidence boost of Tait's early strike, but it was a game of few clear-cut chances.

Bury's best spell came after player-manager Andy Preece had introduced himself as a 67th-minute substitute.

Rovers goalkeeper Scott Howie had to tip over a late header from Danny Swailes as the home side looked nervous but they held out.

Bristol Rovers: Howie, Boxall, Uddin, Barrett, Challis, Carlisle, Quinn, Bryant, Astafjevs, Tait, Grazioli. Subs: Clarke, McKeever, Warren, Hogg, Richards.

Bury: Garner, Unsworth, Swailes, Nelson, Woodthorpe, Stuart, Billy, Dunfield, Forrest, Abbott, Newby. Subs: Preece, Nugent, O'Shaughnessy, Redmond, George.

Referee: P Armstrong (Berkshire).