Everton's European exit won't force Moyes out

Moyes admitted after that loss that the long wait for his new contract - his current deal expires at the end of this season - could be causing instability among his players but in the wake of this latest setback, he insists he wants to stay.

When asked directly about whether he wants to stay, Moyes replied: "Yes, yes, that's right."

The Scot, who has been in charge at Goodison since March 2002, admits that he is currently going through a difficult period but believes that it is the kind of situation that all those in his profession face at some time.

He said: "I've had some tough tests, I think all managers face difficult times and I've had some and there's no divine right to win football games, you have to earn the right to do so.

"In managers' jobs you get into situations that can be hard. I've had it before. There's no manager who comes into football going to have an easy ride that's for sure and it's part of it."

Although Everton were never in a position all evening from which they would have qualified, Moyes insists that he was pleased with the way his team played.

He said: "I thought the lads showed great fight from the first minute. I thought they played well and controlled the game so I'm pleased with their performance.

"We're bitterly disappointed, we wanted to get through in the UEFA Cup so at this moment in time we don't feel good because we're out.

"I thought Standard defended very well but Everton controlled the ball and the game - counter-attack was the biggest threat from Standard and I thought we were comfortable but they scored a goal on the counter-attack."

Moyes refused to compare the current situation to his team's plight in 2005 when they went out of both the Champions League qualifiers and UEFA Cup first round in what proved to be a difficult Premier League campaign and instead felt that the decision not to send off Standard captain Steven Defour in the first half cost his side dearly.

Defour was booked after an angry show of dissent towards German official Peter Sippel but despite a rash challenge soon after he stayed on the pitch to play a large part in Standard's opening goal.

Moyes said: "I've not really been thinking of any parallels (with the European exits of 2005), I've been thinking about the referee's decision in the first half not to send Defour off.

"I thought on two occasions that was so poor. In England we're not allowed to do that to referees, maybe in Europe it's different?

"There was a professional foul after it which was definitely another yellow card. It think the crowd were very good for Standard, they influenced the referee and did a very good job.

"It would certainly have made a difference if Defour had been sent off. He had the shot that led to the first goal.

"We were playing very well against 11 and with 10 we would have had more space and it would have made a big difference in the tie at that time."

Goalscorer Jagielka added: "I think we let ourselves down in the first leg and have ourselves too much to do.

"We played well but their tactics were playing on the counter-attack and it won them the game.

"We did well in two cup competitions last season and not so well in the FA Cup, so maybe we can turn that around this time. We'll have to pick up our league form. The gaffer will sort his own contract out in his own time. I'm sure he is going to stay. But that didn't affect how we played tonight, because I thought we played well."