Avram Grant insists we are still in the title race despite tonight's 1-1 draw at home to Wigan.

Those two points dropped leave us five points adrift of leaders Manchester United, with just four games to play, although one of those is against Sir Alex Ferguson's side next weekend.

Tonight we were undone by an injury-time Emile Heskey equaliser, which cancelled out Michael Essien's opener. Naturally, it left Grant disappointed, but he vowed not to give up on the Premier League.

'We are still in it and will keep on fighting for this. We need one more bad result for Man United, and tonight didn't help us,' he admitted, before adding that his players are still up for the challenge.

'Of course they believe and we can't stop, we need to win the games against Everton and Manchester United. It didn't change so much but we will keep on fighting.'

The Israeli was not impressed with our first half performance, and chose to introduce Joe Cole for the second period, a change that prompted a more cavalier attitude from the Blues.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce saw Cole as a major influence on the game. 'Joe Cole for 20 minutes made more impact than anyone in the first half,' he said.

Grant agreed. 'The second half was one of our best performances on the football side, every three or four minutes we created chances. The goalkeeper gave an excellent performance, and when you don't score the other team scores,' he summarised.

'I didn't like the first half but sometimes it happens. I think the players were in shock because at the last moment one of our best players needed to leave the team, which is understandable. But second half this is football that everybody likes to see.'

The player he referred to was Frank Lampard, who withdrew from the starting eleven shortly before kick-off, due to personal matters. His absence added to that of Didier Drogba, who is struggling with a recurring knee problem, and will have a scan tomorrow.

Despite missing those two, we created plenty of chances to win the game, with John Terry hitting the crossbar, Anelka heading wide and Kirkland saving from Ballack.

'If we used 10 percent of our chances today we would win three or four-nil,' Grant said. 'We needed to score a second one. We had good football, free football. It is very disappointing.'

It means three points at Goodison Park on Thursday is absolutely crucial, and Grant is hopeful that the squad will remain fresh enough, after he made seven changes tonight.

'We are at the end of the season, and have many, many games. Some players play more than they are used to and we have a good squad, a big squad,' he explained.

'We play two games in three days, it is not easy at the end of the season, but this is the decision and we will do our best.'

Bruce too offered his opinion on our game with Everton being moved. 'I can't believe that one - that is absolutely ridiculous when you're going for a league title. To play two games in three days is not right,' he said, despite it handing an advantage to United, his former side.

A double Double winner at Old Trafford, Bruce is already popular among Manchester United supporters, and he admitted after tonight's result, he may be even more so now.

'The phone in my pocket is going repeatedly, I have a few friends in Manchester who will be delighted,' he said.