After Valencia lost 7-0 to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey in midweek, it was vital that Gary Neville inspired them to a positive result against Real Betis on Sunday.
In many ways, Betis were the ideal opponents for Neville’s struggling outfit.
Stuck in a similar rut of poor form, they were nine games without a win before kick-off and had picked up only one home victory all season – against David Moyes’s Real Sociedad back in September.
Gary Neville's Valencia lose at Real Betis, the side with the worst home record in La Liga. Hadn't won at home since 12th September.
— Phil Kitromilides (@PhilKitro) February 7, 2016
But despite those encouraging statistics, Valencia still stumbled to a 1-0 defeat courtesy of Ruben Castro’s strike just after half time.
The result makes it nine matches without a win for Neville in Spain’s top flight and, even more embarrassingly, he is yet to see his team even take the lead in La Liga.
Neville's run without a La Liga win now up to nine games. They've still not even been ahead at any point during those 810 minutes.
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) February 7, 2016
With Valencia fans expressing their discontent in the stands – and Jose Gaya demonstrating a lack of discipline on the pitch with his late red card on Sunday – it seems it’s now only a matter of time before Neville is forced out.
Real Betis end nine-game winless La Liga run and extend Valencia's winless run in the league to 12 – nine with Neville. Looks bleak.
— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) February 7, 2016
