Valencia 2-1 Espanyol

Gary Neville was relieved to earn his first league win as Valencia manager but said there would be no celebration as he still has a big job to do.

Valencia claimed their first win in 10 games under Neville with Saturday's 2-1 victory over struggling Espanyol.

"I'm happy with it, but it's just one small step forward. Relief is probably a good word," said Neville, 40.

"Fans and media have been within their rights to say the things they are saying. I'd have said the same."

Relive Neville's first La Liga win

Espanyol had lost their last eight away league games but went ahead through a Oscar Duarte header after 52 minutes, continuing Valencia's record of never having led a league game under Neville.

The home side equalised when substitute Alvaro Negredo scored with a deflected effort in the 71st-minute.

And on-loan Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev then headed the winner as Neville's side moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Alvaro Negredo and Denis Cheryshev celebrate — Alvaro Negredo's goal was his ninth of the season

England coach Neville admitted this was a game he needed to win after overseeing four defeats and five draws in the league since taking on his first managerial position in December.

The former Manchester United captain had come under pressure from supporters following the poor run of results and a 7-0 loss at Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.

'Not about best performance'

Valencia finished fourth last season, but had not won in the league since 7 November going into Saturday's game.

"The fans were incredible tonight, especially when we went 1-0 down," said Neville. "They stayed with every single player, and me, and I am grateful for that.

"The game tells us that football is not about putting on the best performance. But today we got the result.

"It's not a night for any celebration whatsoever, not to get carried away. We'll gain some confidence from the result. There's a good feeling from the dressing room and we'll take things forward."

Gary Neville earns first Valencia league win — Neville's former England team-mate Carragher refers to the former Manchester United striker whose goal in a 1990 FA Cup replay is widely thought to have saved Alex Ferguson from the sack

Former Liverpool coach joins Neville's staff

Meanwhile, Neville has added former Liverpool and Valencia assistant manager Pako Ayestaran to his coaching team.

Ayestaran will supplement Neville's existing staff, which includes brother and ex-Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville.

Ayestaran, 53, was Valencia's number two between 2001-04 before filling a similar role for three years at Liverpool under Rafa Benitez and has since managed in Israel and Mexico.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Valencia

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Alves Carreira
2Cancelo
4Santos
23AbdennourSubstituted forNunes Vezoat 7'minutes
6Siqueira
10Parejo
15PérezBooked at 33mins
8Feghouli
17RodrigoSubstituted forNegredoat 58'minutes
24CheryshevSubstituted forBarragánat 84'minutes
9Alcácer

Substitutes

3Nunes Vezo
7Negredo
11Piatti
12Barbosa da Silva
16Bakkali
19Barragán
25Ryan

Espanyol

Formation 4-4-2

13López
16López Rodríguez
22González SoberónBooked at 13mins
24Duarte
5Álvarez Delgado
25Asensio
12DiopBooked at 43mins
10González CasanovaBooked at 58mins
9Franco AlvizSubstituted forRocoat 80'minutes
20CaicedoSubstituted forSánchez Mataat 66'minutes
28Sylla DialloSubstituted forMoreno Balagueróat 12'minutes

Substitutes

3Duarte
4Sánchez Mata
6Roco
7Moreno Balagueró
8Sevilla López
19Jordán Moreno
26Prieto Albert

Referee:: Carlos del Cerro Grande
Attendance:: 34,794

Match Stats

Home TeamValenciaAway TeamEspanyol

Possession: Home58%; Away42%

Shots: Home17; Away20

Shots on Target: Home4; Away6

Corners: Home9; Away9

Fouls: Home8; Away19

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Valencia 2, Espanyol 1.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Valencia 2, Espanyol 1.

90'+5'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Enzo Pérez (Valencia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Paco Alcácer.
90'+4'
Post update
Corner, Valencia. Conceded by Óscar Duarte.
90'+2'
Post update
Corner, Espanyol. Conceded by Aderlan Santos.
90'
Post update
Attempt missed. Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Víctor Sánchez with a cross.
88'
Post update
Attempt missed. Pape Diop (Espanyol) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Víctor Álvarez.
86'
Post update
João Cancelo (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'
Post update
Foul by Víctor Álvarez (Espanyol).
86'
Post update
Daniel Parejo (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'
Post update
Foul by Gerard Moreno (Espanyol).
84'
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Antonio Barragán replaces Denis Cheryshev.
84'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
83'
Post update
Delay in match Diego Alves (Valencia) because of an injury.
82'
Post update
Attempt missed. Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
82'
Post update
Attempt saved. Álvaro González (Espanyol) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
82'
Post update
Corner, Espanyol. Conceded by João Cancelo.
81'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Espanyol) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
80'
Substitution
Substitution, Espanyol. Enzo Roco replaces Burgui because of an injury.
78'
Post update
Attempt missed. Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

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