BOLTON Wanderers are refusing to concede an inch to Everton or Liverpool in the battle for the Champions League, despite dropping two precious home points to relegation-haunted Southampton.

Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at the Reebok cost the Whites the chance to go fourth in the Premiership, overtaking Everton and stretching their lead over Liverpool.

The importance of the result will be known on Wednesday night when Everton take on Manchester United at Goodison and Liverpool travel to Portsmouth, but Wanderers are determined to keep the pressure on the Mersey duo.

"It was only a point and people might think it was not enough but it's not all over yet," Sam Allardyce said, defiantly.

"We're going to need Sir Alex (Ferguson) and Manchester United to beat Everton but we still want to challenge for that fourth spot. That's still our aim and still our desire.

"We've got four important games still to play, starting with Aston Villa on Saturday and ending with Everton coming here on the last day of the season and this is the time the nerve ends start to jangle.

"We've got to stay in the race as long as we possibly can. Everybody is still looking forward to that game against Everton and hoping there's something riding on it."

Wanderers looked certain winners on Tuesday night with a first half performance that overwhelmed Southampton, who had lost their previous three games and were desperate for points to haul themselves out of the bottom three.

But all they had to show for a scintillating show was a 25th minute Stelios goal, which was cancelled out by a 69th minute strike by former England striker Kevin Phillips.

Jussi Jaaskelainen had hoped to celebrate his 30th birthday with a victory but refused to let the setback dent his confidence.

"We're still in a good position for that fourth place," the Wanderers keeper said.

"We created a lot of chances but football is not about that, it's about winning.

"We are disappointed but we have to keep going and hope that Everton slip up."

The draw took Wanderers onto 53 points, equalling last season's record Premiership total with four games still to play and, with a seven-point lead over eighth-placed Middlesbrough, keeping them on course for at least a UEFA Cup spot.

"We only finished three points off Europe last year," Jaaskelainen added. "If we don't finish at least in the UEFA Cup place this time, it's going to be a big disappointment for all of us.

"If we do get there, we will have deserved it."