Villa blogger Dave Bytheway warns that another slip up against Everton is not an option after a turgid period to be a claret and blue fan.

From six points in front of Arsenal, to six points behind. How things can change in such a short period.

I don’t want to come across as ever the pessimist, but I’m getting seriously disappointed with the way the season is ending.

We need to win every game remaining to even stand a chance of finishing fourth and that is banking on Arsenal losing, as we did, at Anfield and Old Trafford.

It’s still possible, but as every game goes by the gap gets bigger. We will just have to wait and see.

Against Manchester United on Sunday, I thought we played well for 80 minutes, then did what we always seem to do and switch off.

Someone told me this week that if the league table was based on matches being played until 80 minutes, we would clearly top of the pile.

Surely that tell us something about our team? Is it fitness? Did the early season start affect them more than we think? Is it concentration? Who knows, but something has to be done about that very worrying statistic – and fast.

During the game on Sunday, we showed a bit more of the spirit that has carried us through this season and I feel we deserved more than we got.

We all know that at Old Trafford the away team gets no decisions, and it happened again to us. Twice we were wrongly judged offside when one-on-one with their goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar.

Twice we should – and probably would have – scored. There were no injuries in the second half, and yet still five minutes added time were found.

Questions surely need to be put to officials at times like this, maybe they should have to account where the added time comes from. It’s over now nut the bitter taste is still very present.

Now we welcome Everton on Sunday to Villa Park and we simply have to win. If we don’t, they will put us under massive pressure to finish fifth let alone fourth.

We know what’s at stake and have to raise the game again. I personally would start with the same team as against Man United, as John Carew and Gabby Agbonlahor looked back to their best. On form, they will cause any defence problems.

Before this I will be watching the Wolves game today with my friend Nick Jones for his birthday, so it might be worth reporting back to Martin O’Neill about the likely competition next season.

All in all, a good weekend of football to look forward to.

Have a good weekend, a good Easter and up the Villa!