TREVOR SINCLAIR inspired Queen's Park Rangers to a convincing victory yesterday that keeps alive the prospect of Premiership football at Loftus Road next season. His skills snuffed the life out of Everton's European bid and boosted morale for Rangers for their relegation crunch at Coventry on Saturday.

The Merseysiders, Graham Stuart, their top scorer, Paul Rideout and Daniel Amokachi all out injured, offered precious little threat until 17 year old Michael Branch replaced Anders Limpar at half time to support the isolated Duncan Ferguson.

But by then Sinclair had secured the points for Rangers. He skipped past half hearted challenges from Limpar and Barry Horne to set up Kevin Gallen for his seventh goal of the season after 15 minutes.

Three minutes before the break, Mark Hateley soared above Dave Watson to head in the second from Ian Holloway's right wing cross.

Just at it began to look as though Everton might salvage something from the game, Sinclair took over. He charged down David Unsworth's attempted 61st minute clearance and drove in an angled shot that was beaten out by the diving Neville Southall. Sinclair was quickest to the rebound and tapped the ball past a still grounded Southall.

Unsworth's part in the goal obviously did not impress manager Joe Royle who was celebrating his 47th birthday.