Everton manager David Moyes is convinced Chelsea's Barclays Premier League challenge is over ahead of Thursday night's meeting at Goodison Park.

Avram Grant's men face their second game in four days and sit five points behind leaders Manchester United with just four games left.

Emile Heskey's last-ditch equaliser for Wigan at Stamford Bridge on Monday effectively ended the title race even though Chelsea still have to host United at Stamford Bridge.

If they beat Everton to cut the gap to just two points and then beat United, the west Londoners still have a slim chance of claiming the crown.

Moyes though is confident the trophy will reside inside the Old Trafford trophy cabinet for another season but did feel sympathy for the criticism Grant has received following the Wigan result.

"Chelsea will not win the title. Manchester United will do that now," Moyes said.

"I believe it is United's championship. It would need them to make a real mess of things for that not to happen.

"Chelsea have pushed them hard, but it is United's to throw away now.

"Avram Grant has done a good, steady job. They have a very good squad, you cannot tell who they will play because they can change the team around.

"It is very hard to overhaul Manchester United, they have been doing it at the top for years and years - they are used to it.

"For a new manager to come in and achieve that sort of success in one swoop is not easy."

The Everton boss believes both clubs are now intent on holding on to what they have already achieved and realistically that means UEFA Cup rather than Champions League football for his side next season.

Liverpool's win at home to Blackburn and Everton's draw at Birmingham leaves the Toffees five points behind their neighbours.

Moyes, who has only slim hopes that midfielders Mikel Arteta and Leon Osman will recover from groin and ankle injuries in time for Thursday's game, said: "Our focus is to make sure we secure a European place.

" It will be tight and these next four games will all be very difficult. We need to concentrate on holding onto what we have already got.

"I also feel that it will be hard for us to make fourth now. So in lots of ways the importance of the game has gone really for both clubs.

"Chelsea will not want to be caught by anyone behind them, and we feel the same way to make sure those chasing us do not succeed.

"We are playing for one UEFA Cup spot now. Aston Villa and Portsmouth are not far behind us and we have to keep it that way."

Moyes again raised the complaint of the match being rescheduled to a Thursday night to accommodate television and said supporters need to be taken into account.

"We were not expecting to play on a Thursday night and I am sure Chelsea were not either," Moyes added.

"Neither club were very keen on it. But we are paid handsomely by Sky so we have to accept it.

"I hope it does not set a precedent that games are more very regularly like this, and at the last moment.

"If that happens, at the beginning of every season clubs are going to be expecting games to be changed all over the place.

"As a supporter, I would not be buying a ticket in such circumstances. We have lots of supporters who travel over from Ireland, and they will have booked flights and bought tickets.

"Now they have suddenly been told that has all changed. I feel the clubs have a responsibility to say, 'no, we will not do this. We have supporters we have to answer to'.

"We would all have accepted maybe a Friday. And we are used to games being moved from Saturday to Monday, but we don't see why it should go from Saturday to Thursday."

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