EL-HADJI Diouf, may not be around to enjoy the fruits of his labours, but he will at least have the satisfaction of knowing he has shown Wanderers the way to Europe.

The Senegal star's matchwinner at Eastlands - his seventh goal in 21 appearances - nudged the Whites into a UEFA Cup qualifying position at the expense of a Manchester City side that itself had European aspirations.

But it only served to add to Sam Allardyce's frustration, knowing that Diouf is becoming a victim of his own success.

The controversial African striker already faced an uncertain future, with Liverpool having made it clear he is not wanted back at Anfield while warning Allardyce that, if he wants to keep him, he will have to pay good money.

But every match winning performance like this only serves to jack up the price - and there is already talk of Liverpool asking as much as £5 million, half the fee they paid Lens in the summer of 2002.

Allardyce is not at all confident he will have the funds to convert Diouf's loan into a permanent deal but that, he insists, is a matter for the future.

For now he is on the threshold of becoming the first manager in history to lead Wanderers into Europe - still with a possibility of qualifying through two routes - and with a sixth round FA Cup tie at home to Arsenal on Saturday, things could not be better.

"This was a big result for us," he said, revelling in the fact that, with just nine games to play, the Whites are at least the equal of Liverpool in terms of Premiership points. "Another 1-0, another clean sheet another Diouf goal and a precious three points - it shows how far we have come this season, even after losing six games on the trot.

"We've recovered magnificently to maintain our hopes and our dreams of qualifying for Europe."

For Keegan, whose position has come under intense scrutiny since he announced his intention to quit at the end of next season, it was a night of despair. The City boss agonised as his team, ravaged by injuries and suspension, failed to muster a single shot or a header on target, and admitted he could take "no positives at all" from the performance.

"If we play like that, there's nothing down for us in this division this year," he said.

City's shortcomings certainly helped Wanderers rack up their sixth away win of the season.

Once Robbie Fowler spurned a gilt-edged opportunity on 20 minutes, lifting the ball over the bar after Vincent Candela's sliced clearance put Jussi Jaaskelainen in trouble, they took control.

It was not the best advertisement for Premier League football and there were occasions in the first half when both teams ought to have hung their heads in shame at the standard of their passing.

But Diouf's goal on the stroke of half-time - forced in at the back post after Stelios caught Danny Mills napping - was the decisive blow. City reeled and Wanderers imposed themselves with a copybook away performance - protecting their lead with a well-organised defence while counter-attacking so effectively they were unfortunate not to win by a more convincing margin.

Diouf, who missed a first half header, screwed a shot wide while the industrious Kevin Davies went close, foiled by David James then heading the resulting corner inches wide. Bruno N'Gotty - a rock at the back alongside the impressive Tal Ben Haim - was even closer.

But Diouf as the tormentor in chief right up to the final minute, when he left Richard Dunne chasing shadows and beat James with a cross that only needed a touch from Stelios.

"We've laid a bit of a bogey to rest," Allardyce said, delighted to have ended a three-match losing sequence against City. "Last time we came here we failed to capitalise on a good first half performance and disintegrated in the second and lost 6-2.

"This time we got better and better as the game went on.

"The first half wasn't pretty but we kept our shape and our organisation and in the second half we did a brilliant job, sucking them in and hitting them on the break and creating chance after chance.

"The goal came at a magnificent time for us. It was scrappy but they all count and they are all very precious."