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McLeish starts looking towards Europe Alex McLeish has admitted for the first time that Birmingham could qualify for the Europa League - if his current strikers can deliver sufficient goal-power during the remainder of the season.

McLeish saw the reunited Cameron Jerome-Christian Benitez partnership impress during the 2-0 mid-week win at Portsmouth which lifted City up to eighth spot in the Barclays Premier League.

He concedes Saturday's visitors, Everton, remain favourites to overhaul them despite City drawing 1-1 at Goodison Park and also knocking them out of the FA Cup.

But McLeish believes "anything is possible" if the likes of Jerome, Benitez, James McFadden and veteran Kevin Phillips are in form during the final two months of the campaign.

McLeish said: "Can you qualify for the Europa League? Well, if Cameron continues to score goals and we keep winning, then it's possible.

"If Christian and the other strikers can keep getting us goals - the four front guys we trust to get into these positions and do well - then it's possible.

"We know it's possible. Anything is possible. Everton would still be favourites to catch us in this particular campaign and Fulham are also there and thereabouts.

"But we have got ourselves in a marvellous position of strength - and it's up to the players and ourselves to keep driving and going for it." McLeish made several changes for win at Fratton Park and feels he is now starting to have genuine competition for places in his squad.

The likes of Craig Gardner, Michel and the recalled Benitez all created a favourable impression and will now be vying with the rested Stephen Carr, Sebastian Larsson, James McFadden and fit again Lee Bowyer for a place." Meanwhile, David Moyes has not given up hope of keeping United States skipper Landon Donovan in a squad he maintains is the best he has ever had at the club.

Boss Moyes celebrates eight years at Goodison Park next week frustrated that even in a campaign that has seen Everton beat both Chelsea and Manchester United in quick succession, there will be no major trophies.

It will be Donovan's last game for the club before he is due to return to the US for the start of the Major League Soccer season after a highly successful two-month loan spell on Merseyside.

Moyes sees the possibility of Donovan staying longer if the MLS players go through with their strike, having voted in favour of action on Thursday if they do not get improved labour contracts before their league starts on March 26.

The Scot also hopes that Donovan will realise what he is leaving behind and want another crack at the Premier League.

And if the only prospect left is another loan next January, Moyes will also consider that.

He said: "I don't know yet whether this is Landon's last game, there is still a chance that there could be a players' strike in the US and that could give us the chance of having him a bit longer.

"He has done really well. He settled in very quickly and he has had an impact on the club in the short time he has been here, so we couldn't have asked for more from him.

"We have never talked about a permanent deal. But I think he will return to the States a and say `wow, the Premier League is where I want to be'." He added: "It is a joy for him playing in the US, he is with a great team in a great place. But I think he will say: `I want to play in the Premier League again'.

" Everyone wants to be somewhere that they are loved and cherished, which he certainly is in the US.

"But there is a different situation when you can be playing in the best league in the world against the best players. And if you want to be recognised at that level, Landon would probably want to have the opportunity to give it a go.

"We have not talked to him about the future, that is not right because he is owned by another club. Landon will be the one who in time says what he would really like.

Birmingham vs Everton

Last modified 21:49 13/03/10

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David Moyes is on record saying that his present Everton side is the best in his eight years as Goodison boss.

That might well be the case – but they still struggle, ­occasionally, to demonstrate the killer instinct required of the high-fliers.

At St Andrew’s, they had ­Birmingham – close rivals for a possible European place – on their knees, only to allow them to get their heads off the ­chopping block.

Everton got themselves into a match-winning situation after only 22 minutes with goals from their Nigerian strikeforce of Victor Anichebe and Ayegbeni Yakubu.

Not bad considering they were again without injured top scorer, Louis Saha.

Then, however, it all turned sour as Birmingham ­fought back. It was inspired by ­Cameron Jerome, who is ­growing in stature during his club’s season of impressive consolidation among the elite.

The hitman took his tally for the season to eight goals in the 26th minute to spark off the recovery and then laid on the 52nd-minute equalizer for full-back Craig Gardner.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish said: “I am really ­delighted with Jerome’s form in recent games.

“ I have wanted him to get in where it hurts the opposition and he certainly did that on this occasion. I thought he led the line really well.

“This was the sort of resilient performance that has been the cornerstone of our season so far and I was also delighted with the form of goalkeeper Joe Hart, who made a number of fine saves.

“We did not heed the danger signs early on but we played much better in the second half.”

As for the Everton manager, he also praised Hart and felt his team still had a decent chance of grabbing a Europa League place. “I was ­disappointed with the result but not the performance ­overall,” said Moyes. “Their goalkeeper made some ­terrific saves.

“I always felt it would be a long way to go to get into ­Europe and it still is. We will keep doing everything we can to win matches.”

The game started slowly but Anichebe fired it into life in the 19th minute by accepting a pass from Phil Neville, ­turning his marker Liam Ridgewell and slamming a powerful shot into the corner of the net.

The sloppiness of the ­marking incensed ­Birmingham goalkeeper Hart who had ­previously made brilliant saves from Steven Pienaar and Tim Cahill. And he was not too happy with Everton’s second goal, just three minutes later.

Pienaar was given the time and space to cross from the right for Yakubu to head home unchallenged at the far post.

But it was far from over for Brum. In the 26th minute, Ridgewell atoned for his ­earlier gaffe by delivering a superb cross to a poorly marked Jerome.

The striker had his back to goal but decided on a ­speculative flick which was enough to deflect the ball through the legs of centre- back Phil Jagielka and past startled goalkeeper Tim ­Howard.

Birmingham survived a couple of strong penalty ­appeals just after the restart when first Roger Johnson was struck on the arm by a shot from Pienaar and then ­Gardner appeared to flick the ball into contact with his arm as he brought the ball out from defence.

They rode their luck, ­however, and in the 52nd minute, Gardner scored his first goal for Birmingham since his transfer window switch from Aston Villa.

A long clearance from Hart flew on to the head of Jerome and he delivered the ball ­perfectly into the path of Gardner who volleyed his shot inside the post.