ALAN Judge scored the only goal of the game as Blackburn Rovers Reserves gave the club a welcome lift with a 1-0 win at Liverpool tonight.

The Republic of Ireland Under 21 international midfielder slammed home a penalty to give Rovers all three points against the Barclays Premier Reserve League's reigning champions at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Rovers, in need of any sort of boost after the first team's Carling Cup loss at Manchester United 24 hours earlier, earned the penalty after impressive Irish Under 19 wide man Aaron Doran saw his surge into the area illegally halted by Emmanuel Mendy.

Rovers included Roque Santa Cruz's younger brother Julio up front with Andy Haworth, who made his full debut for the first team in last month's Carling Cup win at Sunderland, on the right of midfield.

Mark Bunn, signed from Northampton in August, appeared in goal and a number of the side that featured in Rovers' FA Youth Cup defeat at Charlton on Tuesday were also involved.

Liverpool's Dani Pacheco put two early efforts narrowly wide of the post, while Marcus Marshall had a goal disallowed for offside for Rovers.

With first-team coach Archie Knox watching from the stand, Iain Brunskill's reserve team then went ahead before Pacheco had a free kick saved by Bunn.

Mikel San Jose also headed over from a corner for the Reds, who travel to Ewood Park for a Premier League clash on Saturday.

Bunn again saved from Pacheco after the interval but Liverpool were largely limited to long-range efforts by a resilient Rovers side looking comfortable in control of the game.

Rovers could even have made it 2-0 when Doran saw his effort saved by Liverpool keeper Peter Gulacsi after the ball had broken loose inside the area.

They did have one major scare in injury time, however, when San Jose put a free header wide at the far post.

Rovers (4-4-2): Mark Bunn; Alex Marrow, Jonathan Flynn, Dean Winnard, Gavin Gunning; Andy Haworth (Josh O'Keefe 72), Bryan Hodge, Alan Judge (Jason Lowe 89), Aaron Doran (Michael Potts 83); Julio Santa Cruz, Marcus Marshall. Subs not used: Bjorn Bussmann, Callum O'Connor.

Liverpool (4-4-2): Peter Gulacsi; Emmanuel Mendy, Mikel San Jose, Ronald Huth, Stephen Darby (Steven Irwin 46); Gerardo Bruna (Jordy Brouwer 72), Jay Spearing, Damien Plessis, Vincent Weijl (Ryan Crowther 59); Krisztian Nemeth, Dani Pacheco. Subs not used: Martin Hansen, Daniel Ayala.

Attendance: 455.