BOLTON Wanderers' European ambitions have been boosted by the FA Cup semi-final draw that offers the prospect of the team finishing seventh in the Premiership winning a UEFA Cup place.

Should next month's ties go to form and Manchester United and Arsenal beat Newcastle and Blackburn respectively and meet in the final and, as expected, qualify for the Champions League, the UEFA Cup place allotted to the winners or runners-up of the FA Cup will be transferred to the Premier League.

Chelsea's triumph in the Carling Cup has already guaranteed that the team finishing sixth this season will qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Wanderers, currently sixth in the Premiership, were left with just the one route into Europe following their FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, but are now doubly determined to press on in the league. Jussi Jaaskelainen, whose saves kept Wanderers in with a chance against Arsenal, struck an optimistic note ahead of Saturday's Reebok clash with bottom club, Norwich City.

"One door has closed but we are still sixth in the table and, if everyone keeps working like they did on Saturday, we still have a very good chance of getting into Europe," said the in-form keeper.

"If we stop working we could go backwards. Yes, we are disappointed but there's no way our heads are down. Definitely not.

"Everything is focused on the league and hopefully we can keep our sixth position in the table or even move up higher.

"Now we have to go into next Saturday's game against Norwich and make sure we win that. We have worked hard as a team since the West Brom game at the start of January."

Stand-in skipper, Gary Speed, was equally determined. "Perhaps when we look at the video we will be able to find some positives to take out of the Arsenal game but, at the moment, the negatives outweigh them by a long way.

"But, hopefully our performance with 10 men can inspire us to carry on our good results in 2005 in the league. It's a massive game now against Norwich with that European spot up for grabs."

Kevin Davies is confident Wanderers can overcome their FA Cup disappointment. "I don't think losing to Arsenal will affect us in the league," he said. "The spirit is good in the dressing room.

"We bounced back after a disappointment against Newcastle with a great result at Manchester City, so we know we can do it."