1-0: NO LUCK IN VALENCIA

Sometimes things just don't go your way. That is how it felt on Friday evening at the Mestalla. After an impressive first-half performance, we entered the changing rooms a goal down. First, a penalty, given on-field by referee Sánchez Martínez, was overturned by VAR. Then, Sambi Lokonga thought he had given us the lead, only for Dodi Lukébakio's corner adjudged to have marginally left the field of play. Valencia keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili made a number of good saves to keep his side level, and Valencia then took the lead on the stroke of half time. In the fourth minute of three additional minutes, Javi Guerra curled one past Ørjan Nyland after Isaac Romero had appeared to have been fouled in the build up. In the second half, we were unable to break through the Valencia defence and the equaliser proved elusive. 

Before the home side took the lead, Mamardashvili was the stand out performer as he made a number of good saves. Notably, he denied Sambi's powerful effort from outside the area and Lukébakio's poke after he was played through by Djibril Sow. Just past the quarter-hour mark, the referee pointed to the spot for Gayá's challenge on Peque, but the penalty was overturned following VAR review. In the 30th minute, Sambi had the ball in the back of the net after meeting Lukébakio's corner. However, the linesman adjudged that the ball had gone out of play in mid-air. Without clear evidence proving the contrary, the on-field decision remained.

Towards the end of the first half, Valencia managed their first dangerous attack which resulted in Loïc Badé turning Javi Guerra's cross onto the crossbar. Nyland was alert to the danger, keeping out Gayá's rebound. Soon after, Isaac had a great chance to take the lead following a quick counter-attack, but he could only skew his effort wide. In the final play of the first half, Guerra found the back of the net, via the far post, to give the home side the lead. Appeals for a foul on Isaac in the build up were waved away.

In the second half, we were unable to generate the same intensity. Nyland made some very good saves to deny Hugo Duro and Diego López before Mamardashvili denied Lokonga once more. Saúl Ñíguez, Stanis Idumbo and Chidera Ejuke were introduced from the bench in the search of an equaliser, but it wasn't to be. Defeat was the fourth in a row as Valencia leapfrog us in the league standings. Next up is a home match against Deportivo Alavés as García Pimienta will look to put an end to this poor run.