IN-FORM Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane admitted on Saturday night that his Sunderland teammates will be kicking themselves if they fail at the last hurdle to fulfil their dream of playing in Europe next season.

Kilbane put the Wearsiders on the road to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Charlton Athletic - their first Premiership success at the Stadium of Light since New Year's Day - with a cracking goal to maintain a last-ditch challenge for sixth place in the table.

But Chelsea also won their home game against Everton, and now Sunderland need the Londoners to slip up in their last two games, at Liverpool and Manchester City for them to stand any chance of climbing above them by winning at Goodison Park on the last day of the season.

Kilbane, whose superb overhead kick at Southampton earned a crucial victory, believes that precious points have been allowed to slip away.

He said: "I do think we have a chance of climbing into sixth spot, but it's going to be difficult and we will have to rely on other teams around us slipping up.

"We just have to win at Everton and I do think we are capable of getting the three points there and hope for the best.

"We've had a good season but in the last five or six weeks we just haven't been able to get over the finishing line.

"Our home game against Spurs was a classic example - we dominated the game and we were 2-0 up at half-time but we were so disappointed to have thrown three points away in the second half.

"Come the end of the season we might be looking back at those sort of games and think what if?

"It could have been all so different - we could have been fourth, fifth or even challenging for that Champions League spot if we'd just picked up another four or five more points, which would have been well within our reach."

He added: "If we don't qualify we will be kicking ourselves - we will be looking back at those games and realise that we haven't picked up the maximum points we should have done in certain matches.

"But we will go into our last game knowing that we've got to win - over the next two weeks we just have to keep ourselves ticking over and try to keep ourselves right.

"We have got ourselves in a good position again - going to Everton will be a big game for us and I think we are capable of winning it."

Kilbane has nightmare memories of his Premiership debut at Goodison Park last season after his £2.5m transfer from West Bromwich Albion - Sunderland were hammered 5-0 by manager Peter Reid's old team, a demoralising defeat which signalled a disastrous slide down the table.

But Kilbane feels that the set-back last season could make the team even more determined to finish on a high note this time.

He said: "I think the gaffer will be getting us fired up for this one, especially going back to his old place.

"Last season we got stuffed 5-0 there on my first start for the club and I don't want to come away against from Everton feeling like that.

"I think we have got a stronger side now and hopefully we've got more about us this time to go there and pick up points."