SAM Allardyce’s Wanderers must have been wondering what all the Premiership fuss was about as they made it three wins in three games after winning promotion through the play-offs.

But they were gifted this one when Liverpool keeper Sander Westerveld let Dean Holdsworth’s last-minute shot skid under his body.

Gerrard Houllier’s Reds had just beaten Bayern Munich to win the European Super Cup and clinch an unprecedented five trophies in six months while Big Sam’s Whites were pinching themselves after winning their first two games – 5-0 at Leicester and 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough.

But Michael Ricketts sprang a surprise when he headed the opener on 26 minutes, but that served only to prompt Liverpool to step up a gear.

Wanderers had outstanding defensive performers in Gudni Bergsson, Anthony Barness, Mike Whitlow and Simon Charlton but they eventually buckled under almost incessant pressure when Emile Heskey grabbed the equaliser on 66 minutes.

The smart money was on a Liverpool win until substitute Holdsworth gambled and dropped the jackpot.

Wanderers were enjoying their 15 minutes of fame at the pinnacle of English football but Allardyce put the achievement in perspective when he admitted: “This was not a big game for Liverpool, but it was a massive win for us.”

Wanderers: Jaskelainen; Barness, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Hansen, Frandsen (Farrelly 68 mins), Warhurst, Nolan (Diawara 81 mins), Gardner; Ricketts (Holdsworth 55 mins). Not used: Nishizawa, Banks.

Liverpool: Westerveld; Babbel (Riise at h-t), Hyypia, Henchoz, Carragher; Gerrard, McAllister, Hamann, Murphy; Owen, Fowler (Heskey 63 mins). Not used: Biscan, Litmanen, Arphexad.