Everton skipper warns Everton now in a relegation fight

Everton captain Phil Neville saw his team put in an abject performance in the 2-0 defeat at Bolton on Sunday and admitted the Toffees are now glancing nervously below them at the drop zone.

After their eighth league loss of the season, David Moyes' side are just three points above the relegation places.

"Rather than looking up we're in a real dogfight and that's me being honest," Neville told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"The incentive before the game was to get the three points and shoot up the league to eighth position. That performance wasn't up to scratch."

Before the game Everton's squad was depleted by injuries to in-form striker Louis Saha, who scored four goals against Blackpool, and midfielder Jack Rodwell.

But Neville is not using their absence as an excuse for the latest setback.

"You get injuries, you've got to deal with it and we've got a [good enough] squad," Neville added. "The manager put a squad together at the beginning of the season and you've got to deal with it.

"It's all part and parcel of football."

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