Everton

Phil Jagielka retains top-four hope

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 08 April 2013

Phil Jagielka insists that Everton will continue their pursuit of the top four, despite being six points adrift of the Champions League places.

Phil Jagielka has insisted that Everton will not give up on their outside chance of finishing in the Premier League's top four.

A 2-2 draw at fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday left the Toffees six points behind their fellow contenders for Champions League qualification.

While Jagielka admits that Everton are reliant on Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea dropping points, the England international defender still maintains hope of overtaking the London trio.

He said: "We know we need a lot of help from teams around us, either taking points off each other or a shock result coming in. But we'll take that.

"We've not been in as good a position in the league for a long time - we're usually chasing fifth or sixth - so it's nice to have gone up a level and as much as we're delighted with the point we'd have loved to have three.

"But we'll go on to next week's game and keep the chase on for as long as possible."

Everton return to Premier League action with a match against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.