DAVID MOYES has warned his Everton players they cannot afford to coast to the end of the season after seeing their hopes of silverware dashed.

Last week’s Europa League exit to Sporting Lisbon means the Goodison outfit’s 15-year wait for a trophy has been extended for another campaign.

With Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur leaving Everton 10 points off sixth place, Moyes admits it is a “long shot” for his team to claim a third successive European qualification.

But Phil Jagielka, who made his long-awaited return from injury in Portugal, has revealed the Everton manager will not stand for any drop in standards over the final two months of the campaign.

“The gaffer’s pulled us all in – we’re not going to want to fizzle out for the rest of the season,” said the centre-back.

“In the past, we’ve always had things to play for going into the last few games of the season; for example last season it was for fifth place.

“I think we’ll maybe struggle to get to fifth this season, but you never know if we put a good run together. The squad’s the strongest we’ve had it for a while, although we’ve lost a couple of players.

“But the team and the bench are looking strong and we’ve got options – the gaffer wants us to kick on now.”

The 2-1 reverse at White Hart Lane was only Everton’s second Premier League defeat in 13 league games.

And Jagielka believes there are enough reasons for Moyes’s men not to let their efforts in rekindling hopes of a top-six finish go to waste.