Gary Neville’s first league win at Valencia had been a long time coming and did not come easy. With 55 minutes on the clock his side fell behind to strugglers Espanyol, the only team in La Liga in worse form than his own, and he was staring at a third successive league defeat and no wins in 10 attempts. He turned things around by looking to the bench and throwing on Alvaro Negredo, a player isolated before Neville’s arrival.
The Spaniard stabbed in the equaliser with the help of a deflection from Oscar Duarte, the man who had scored at the other end for Espanyol. The hope was so nearly extinguished at the other end by Duarte, but barely a minute later the moment Neville and Valencia’s supporters had waited over two months for finally arrived, Denis Cheryshev diving at the far post to head them in front in a league game.
“I'm happy with it but it's just one small step forward. There’s still a big job to do.”
Valencia’s supporters have suffered four crushing defeats in the last fortnight and some have travelled to the club’s training ground and waited at the city’s airport to scream their displeasure at Neville and his players. But this time they packed the old Mestalla stadium, unfurling a banner reading “For your colours, for your badge, for your fans. Valencia always rises again”. They kept the faith even when Diego Alves flapped at a corner to allow Duarte to head Espanyol in front.
“The most incredible bit was the fans stayed with us, they stayed with every single player, they stayed with me,” said Neville.
Although he has faced stinging criticism from the local media, the 40-year-old believes he will be given more time by owner Peter Lim, evidenced by his announcement that Pako Ayestarán, Rafa Benitez’s former assistant, will join his coaching staff.
“It's not a night for any celebration whatsoever, not to get carried away,” Neville added.
“In terms of media and fan reaction they are well within their rights, I'd be saying the same things as a journalist, as a fan. I’m not expecting to be shielded or protected. I thrive on it. I know I'm in a fight.”
- Telegraph