Everton preview

In the context of our bid to finish in seventh place come the end of the season, this is realistically a game we have to win.

Our wretched run of form away from hasn't shown any signs of ending, yet an opportunity does present itself tomorrow at Goodison Park against an Everton side who went the full distance in their FA Cup semi-final win last weekend, and then had a difficult game at Chelsea in midweek - which to their credit they came away with a 0-0 draw from, to perhaps dispel suggestions that they would put the Premier League to one side ahead of the FA Cup final.

For ourselves last weekend, the victory over West Brom was expected, but the manner of the performance in getting the three points was pleasing given the disappointment and toll that the defeat to Hamburg the previous Thursday must have taken.

Whilst Everton are a very useful side, allowed to be built over a number of seasons and led very well by the well regarded David Moyes, we do have a chance of victory. So often away from home we have been lacklustre and without direction, but our two most creative talents - Robinho and Elano appear to be getting back to their best and I do feel a postive approach to the game could bring dividends.

Team wise, we will be without Shaun Wright-Phillips along with Craig Bellamy and Pablo Zabaleta so much will depend on our two Brazilians. There probably won't be many goals (or indeed chances) so we really cannot afford to be as profligate in front of goal as we have perhaps been.

Currently we sit in tenth place, four points off West Ham, and for those sides eyeing up seventh place the weekends fixtures are as follows:

West Ham, 45 points - Chelsea (h)
Fulham, 44 points - Stoke (h)
Tottenham, 44 points - Manchester United (a)
Manchester City, 41 points - Everton (a)
Wigan, 41 points - Blackburn (a)

Looking at the sides ahead of us in particular, if we can come away with a win tomorrow then we could really be back in the mix for a place in the Europa League next season - and I have a sneaking feeling that we are going to come away with all three points tomorrow.