Real Oviedo 2 Almeria 0

First win for Hierro

Real Oviedo's first game at the Carlos Tartiere under Fernando Hierro got off to a winning start after second half goals from Nando and Toche saw off a resolute Almeria side.

Hierro was desperate to get off to a winning start at home and make the Carlos Tartiere a fortress. He made two changes to last week’s side that lost at Valladolid with Varela coming in for his debut at left back in place of Carlos Pena. Pereria also made his first start in attack replacing Linares who had to do with a place on the bench. Juan Carlos kept his place in goal despite a shaky start last week.

The first half was a cagey affair with neither side creating anything other than half chances until on the stroke of half time when the visitors created the best chance so far. A ball in from the right was met by the head of Chulli but thankfully for Oviedo his effort came back off the post.

The game came to life shortly into the second half as after 54 minutes Oviedo took the lead. A clever flick by Toche freed Nando down the left hand side. He ran with the ball into the area before cutting inside, beating his man and curling a fine finish into the bottom corner of the net. It was a superb goal and hopefully a sign of things to come from the exciting winger.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as on the hour mark they were reduced to ten men. Diamanka seemed to swing his arm into the face of Nando and the winger went down clutching his face. The contact seemed minimal and Nando's overreaction didn’t help but you just cannot raise your arms in this day and age so the Almeria man could have few complaints. Toche had a great chance with twenty minutes remaining from a through ball, but for once his control let him down and the chance had gone. With 78 minutes on the clock came a defining moment in the game. The visitors won a corner and from it they nearly equalised. Antonio Puertas met the corner superbly and his downward header looked to have drawn the visitors level but Juan Carlos pulled off a stunning reflex save. It really was top drawer and just what the keeper needed to build confidence. To make Juan Carlos feel even better was on 86 minutes we made the game safe, making the save seem even more important. Toche was released through the middle and after a couple of stepovers beat his man and finished emphatically beyond Casto in the visiting goal. After last week it was great for last seasons top scorer to get off the mark this season. In stoppage time substitute Linares should have made it 3-0 but Casto pulled off a superb double save to keep the score down. Linares should have scored the first of his two efforts. We wont be greedy though and 2-0 is a fine score line and we are up and running in what hopes to be a great season. Next week we are back on the road or should i say the air as we travel to face Mallorca.

　

John Mothershaw