Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard says the Europa League cannot be blamed for their poor season.

Howard was speaking after their 1-1 draw at Swansea City.

The demands of playing 10 games in the Europa League have certainly taken their toll but Howard rejected that theory, saying: "That's something that's been talked about for the last five or 10 years but it's just a blanket statement people make. Champions League teams have to do the same thing.

"They play Wednesday and Saturday and it's tough but no-one blames Champions League football. Every football team does not have a god given right to be anywhere.

"We've put in honest performances but things just haven't gone our way. We could sit here and make a list of a thousand different things but it's not the Europa League or anything else."