DINIYAR BILYALETDINOV has urged Everton not to allow their FA Cup heroics to distract from their attempts to climb up the Premier League table.

The Goodison outfit entertain Sunderland on Saturday on a high following their memorable fourth-round Cup replay win at Chelsea last weekend.

Victory for Blackpool over Tottenham Hotspur in midweek has seen David Moyes’s side drop to 14th place, only three points off the relegation zone and five points clear of bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, such is the congested nature of the top flight that they stand only seven points adrift of seventh-placed Sunderland with a game in hand.

And with a fifth-round tie at home to Reading to come on Tuesday night, Bilyaletdinov believes Everton cannot afford to let their league efforts be overshadowed.

“The Cup run is now a very important part of our season,” said the Russia international. “It gives us a chance to get to Wembley and we would like to do that but it is important we don’t forget about the Premier League.

“We need two runs – one in the league and one in the cup, and we know Sunderland is a big game for us.”

The shoot-out triumph at Chelsea last Saturday was further evidence of Everton’s excellent record against the Premier League’s leading clubs this season.