Everton are furious after their Europa League chances were killed off after their 0-0 draw with Stoke City.

Needing a victory to maintain their challenge, it looked as though they would be granted that wish when Phil Jagielka found the net in the 72nd minute.

The defender's firm downward header from Mikel Arteta's corner was helped in by goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

However to Everton's astonishment referee Howard Webb disallowed Jagielka's effort, apparently because Victor Anichebe was offside.

The decision left manager David Moyes baffled and remonstrating with the fourth official.

Moyes skipped the post-match press conference and his assistant Steve Round said: "We thought it was a perfectly good goal. We cannot quiet understand why it was disallowed. The officials made the decision and we have to respect that.

"He (Anichebe) is in an offside position but is he interfering, I don't know. We have taken a corner and it has been headed straight in the net."

They have lost only twice in the league since November but Europe is now out of reach.

Round said: "We are very disappointed as we wanted to win today to keep the pressure on. We felt after Stoke's defeat last week they would be in an aggressive mood and determined to show everyone it was a one-off.

"We were hoping to take control of the game in the last 30 minutes but unfortunately we could not quite do it. We are determined to be in Europe every year. That's the ambition of the club. We want to be in the Champions League if not the Europa League. It does test your resources but we want to be in these competitions.

"We had a disappointing start with key players missing. We have been on an excellent run of form. We have not lost in 10 and that bodes well for next season."