Jagielka: Home Form Key For European Push

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Barclays Premier League: Joleon Lescott, Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka , Everton - Middlesbrough (PA)

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After a stuttering start to the campaign, Everton have managed to haul themselves into seventh place of the Premier League table. That position would be much better though had the Toffees not squandered fifteen points at home.

They dropped another two points at Goodison to Middlesbrough on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with the Teesside club, and defender Phil Jagielka says that such home form is simply not good enough.

"One win in the league here all season is not good enough," said the defender, whom many Everton fans felt was unlucky not to receive a call-up to Fabio Capello's England squad.

"Middlesbrough was the sort of game we would have expected to take three points from. The fans are a bit quiet because we are not giving them much to shout about – for the home draw with Manchester United, the place was electric.

"So it is up to us to provide the fans with something that excites them. We are realists. We know it is up to us to pick up our home form, and that will then get the crowd going.

"The way this division is at the moment, if you lose a couple you are in a relegation fight."

Despite faltering at home, Everton have managed to put together an unbeaten run of five games, and will be looking to increase that number when they travel to Wigan on Saturday.

And Jagielka feels that as long as though they show the same level of commitment they showed in drawing with Boro then that is entirely possible.

"It took us a long time to get back into the game," the former Sheffield United man added.

 "But the reaction to going behind from the lads was impressive.

"We had some chances, then you start thinking that it can be one of those days. But then Yak got on the end of a free-kick, a fantastic finish!"

Zack Wilson, Goal.com