Ruddock secure points in scrappy encounter

A first-half goal from defender Neil Ruddock was just enough to give Liverpool a fortunate three points from a scrappy, disjointed performance against QPR. With a little more luck and steadiness in front of goal the Londoners could have grabbed at least a point from this uninspiring match.

But Roy Evans will be encouraged by the thought that teams that win titles win games even when they are playing badly. Steve Harkness floated in a free-kick from the left after 29 minutes and Ruddock rose and headed back for Ian Rush who knocked it down invitingly for the big defender. He blasted in a low shot with such power that keeper Tony Roberts got his hands to it but could not keep it out.

Liverpool had looked comfortable rather than spectacular in the first half, John Barnes testing Roberts with a fierce angled drive that he caught over his head at the second attempt after 12 minutes and Rush hitting a snap shot wide after 25.

QPR, with boss Ray Wilkins playing in front of his back four and Kevin Gallen a lone striker, had their best early chances thanks to the generosity of Liverpool's central defenders. First Mark Wright's pass was easily intercepted by Simon Barker who set up Gallen for a near miss, then Ruddock's careless ball ran straight to Andrew Impey who cut inside but curled a shot wide.

QPR came close in the 20th minute when Gallen met David Bardsley's accurate centre from the right with a header that glanced off Wright's forehead and just cleared the angle of bar and post. Rangers resumed after the break searching doggedly for the equaliser, Simon Osborn flashing a shot wide of the far post after good work by Impey. With 20 minutes remaining another loose Ruddock pass released Danny Maddix for a dangerous run down the inside left channel that ended with a shot over from a difficult angle. Barker unleashed a dipping 25-yard thunderbolt after 77 minutes that narrowly cleared the Liverpool crossbar. And four minutes from time Trevor Sinclair's shot was headed off the line by Rob Jones with keeper David James beaten.

Liverpool will give fitness checks to three of their international players tomorrow before releasing them for duty for their countries next week. Stan Collymore did not play in tonight's 1-0 home win over QPR, so he will be examined along with fellow England man Steve McManaman and Republic of Ireland defender Phil Babb, who were both injured against the London side. McManaman, hoping for a place against Colombia at Wembley next Wednesday, suffered an ankle knock, while Babb, expecting to face Austria in Vienna, damaged a knee.

Evans admitted he was disappointed with Liverpool's performance, saying it was unrecognisable from Saturday's away win at Spurs. "Let's give credit to QPR who made it tough for us, but we were not bright or lively," he said. "We were a little bit laborious and we were happy to come out with a win. Last week we played really well at Leeds and got nothing -- sometimes it balances itself out. All the great teams have won games when they didn't play well. At least we didn't want to get beaten and were determined enough not to give a goal away."

Ray Wilkins, who got a standing ovation when he came off after 78 minutes, was delighted with everything except the result. "I thoroughly enjoyed it," he said. "It was nice to massage the ego! When you are playing on a surface like that, it's a very pleasant game. They are a great crowd here and their reaction was very pleasant. I thought it was a pretty even contest. They got the break in the first half and won the game, but as a contest it was two good footballing sides. If our lads were to show a little bit more self-belief, we could come to places like this and get a result. We've got to start believing we can come to the big clubs, perform as we did tonight and stick the ball in the net as well."

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