JUSSI Jaaskelainen is confident Wanderers can still qualify for Europe this season, provided they get their defensive act together.

The Whites lost their second successive Premiership game when they bowed to Manchester United's superiority in Saturday's Reebok derby and, although still seventh with games in hand, they missed another opportunity to enhance their prospects of a top six finish.

And the defensive statistics just one clean sheet in their last nine league games is a clear indication where the fault lies.

But Jaaskelainen, who has ended his long-running contract dispute by signing a new three-year contract, believes they are still good enough to get the necessary points from their eight remaining fixtures.

"Of course we have a lot to do, but we are capable of doing it," he said.

"But we have to get back to the clean sheet mentality, which we haven't had in the last few games.

"Hopefully, with a lot of hard work, we will get there."

United took the derby honours with a 79th minute Ruud van Nistelrooy strike his 150th career goal for the Reds after Kevin Davies had given Wanderers a 26th-minute lead.

The Whites' joy was short-lived with Louis Saha equalising seven minutes later and, although they had their chances and contributed much to an entertaining game, they were eventually outgunned by Sir Alex Ferguson's formidable strike force, who cut the gap between themselves and runaway leaders, Chelsea, to just seven points.

Sam Allardyce acknowledged the gulf in class as United went for broke with a four-man forward line of Wayne Rooney, Saha, Van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"When I saw Van Nistelrooy get stripped and go on for Fletcher, I thought Oh dear! I hope our lads can cope'," the Wanderers boss said, ruefully.

"Sadly they didn't. It wasn't for the want of trying, but the quality of players Manchester United have bought is a million miles away from what we can afford."

Wanderers have the opportunity to make up for lost ground when they play the first of their two games in hand at Birmingham tomorrow.

But Steve Bruce's Blues, fighting for their Premiership lives, are bullish again after holding Chelsea to a scoreless draw on Saturday and are likely to be strengthened by the return of key players.

Jaaskelainen said his long-awaited decision to sign a two-year extension to his current contract that already had another season to run, was primarily because he is convinced the best is still to come at the Reebok.

"I had to think about the club and my position and the fact that I am happy here," said the Finland international, Wanderers' longest serving player.

"The staff behind me are the best and they are going to help me get better in my career."I have a good back-up here and I've seen the club, over the nine years I have been here, go forward all the time.

"We still have more to come. I don't think this is the best from our team. I think the future holds better things."

Approaching his 31st birthday, Jaaskelainen believes he still has his best years ahead of him and could spend the remainder of his career at the Reebok.

"I hope I can," he said. "This is just for the next three years and I always go step by step. You never know. Obviously if a big club comes in and wants to buy me, that could be a dream, but I don't think so far ahead.

"I only think about Bolton Wanderers."