Osman says Everton going for top 5 finish

Everton stand-in skipper Leon Osman says a top five finish is their target this season.

Osman, outstanding in their draw with Stoke City, said: "Getting back into that top five for a European place is our aim, but it does not get any easier. Clubs like Stoke have spent money and the opposition is getting harder by the week.

"And we are a target now. We have finished in the top five or so now for the last few seasons so teams fancy their chances and want to do well against us.

"They come to Goodison Park intent on claiming the scalp of a big club now, that is what we have become.

"They know they have to work hard, but they will step it up and raise their game. That makes it twice as hard for us to break them down.

"It is now all about us finding that next level to be able to cope with such situations, people really want to beat us because of what we have achieved."