Joseph Yobo has called on Everton to hold their nerve as the Toffees face a desperate battle to hang onto fifth place in the Premier League.Everton have not been outside the top five since the turn of the year, but if they lose at home to in-form Aston Villa on Sunday, the Midlanders will overtake them in the race for the UEFA Cup spot.

It could be a bitter end to the season for Everton, who have produced consistent league performances, a Carling Cup semi-final slot and a fine UEFA Cup run.

To fail now would be a shattering blow, but the Blues defender insisted that Everton must look to their home matches to clinch fifth place.

Everton's run-in is anything but simple, with Arsenal away and Newcastle at home to follow the clash with Villa but Yobo believes home advantage will see the Toffees through.

He said: "Towards the end of the season you always want to be playing the majority of your games at home, and we have got that opportunity now, so hopefully we can take advantage of that if we keep a steady head.

"If someone had given us fifth at the start of the season, we would have taken it.

"If you look at the way the Everton team has been going this season, we have been fourth of fifth for quite a long time now so it is going to be disappointing now if we do not qualify for Europe.

"Once you have played in Europe, most players want to do that every year. We have tasted it a few times now, and we know what it is like and we want to get there again."

But Everton know that things have turned against them of late, with only one win in their last five, while Villa have relentlessly closed the gap and have scored 15 goals in their last three games.

They will arrive at Goodison Park three points behind Everton, but with a better goal difference.

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