DEFIANT team-mates rallied round Jussi Jaaskelainen last night, refusing to let the goalkeeper take the rap for the defeat that left Wanderers teetering on the brink of the Premiership drop zone.

The Finland international conceded a bizarre own goal that sent Liverpool on their way to a 3-1 win that left the dark clouds of relegation hovering over the Reebok.

But no one was playing the blame game.

Centre-back Gary Cahill, who joined Wanderers from Aston Villa in January and has quickly built up rapport with Jaaskelainen said: "We've given him a pat on the back and told him to keep his chin up.

"He's been outstanding since I've been here and he's kept us in many a game.

"It was one of those unfortunate things that happens to every player once in a blue moon and it is once in a blue moon for him because I don't see him making mistakes like that.

"We didn't dwell on it. In fact no one mentioned it in the dressing room. You didn't have to point the finger because he knows it was a big mistake.

"He knows himself, the lads know, but we just pick ourselves up and carry on."

The 10th minute incident left Wanderers, who started the game well, facing an uphill battle in their efforts to secure vital safety points on a weekend when rivals Reading and Birmingham got wins that increased the relegation pressures on Gary Megson's side.

Steven Gerrard's speculative shot was going wide until Jaaskelainen got his arm to it, knocking the ball against his own face and spinning into the net.

It was a rare clanger by the 32-year-old, who is rated one of Europe's top keepers, and one that Liverpool took full advantage of to complete a Premiership double over Wanderers, who were again left cursing their luck, which seems to have deserted them in recent weeks.

But Megson refused to let Jaaskelainen carry the can, suggesting the modern day ball that has a tendency to move in the air, might have contributed to his embarrassment.

"There is no blame," the manager said. "The lad is a great goalkeeper and he made two fantastic saves after that. He holds his hands up, it was a mistake and it wasn't going in.

"Apparently, the ball has moved in the air as they do nowadays. The ball is a lot more prone to moving than a lot of the old fashioned balls. It has hit him in the face and spun the wrong side of the post from our point of view."

Andy O'Brien, who has been impressive at the heart of the back four since joining Wanderers from Portsmouth in August, stressed that the survival mission continued to be a collective effort.

"We don't blame individuals," he said. "We've done well defensively because of the work ethic. People make mistakes and things will go against you, but it's important to keep the work ethic going.

"We don't blame Jussi for that first goal, we've got 10 games left and we've just got to get on with it."

Wanderers paid a high price for their third successive Premiership defeat losing right-back Gretar Steinsson with a thigh injury just before half time and skipper Kevin Nolan failed to appear for the second half with a back complaint.

Both will have a fortnight to recover before Wanderers play their next league game at Wigan on Sunday, March 16. Steinsson isn't eligible for the UEFA Cup Round of 16 tie against Sporting Lisbon - the first leg of which takes place on Thursday at the Reebok - and Megson hinted last night that Nolan may not be considered for either that or the return in Lisbon on Thursday week, because he is too important to the survival effort.

"We'll be picking sides (for the European games) with an eye to doing well in that competition but more so to do well in the Premiership," he said.

"Everything's been focused and will continue to be focused on survival. We're in a perilous position and everything's got to be dictated by our league position."

Stressing Nolan's importance to the team, he added: "I find it really strange that he is not appreciated a lot more here than he actually is. Every time we have played in the Premiership without him we haven't looked the same team. It isn't just his football, it is his leadership qualities.

"He probably shouldn't have started the game, he was having back problems before we set off but he wanted to play. It's just a shame he couldn't carry on."