Almeria 3 Real Oviedo 0

Defeat on the road again for Oviedo

Real Oviedo slipped to a disappointing defeat in the south of Spain against Almeria. The score line flattered the home side, as Oviedo should have got at least a draw out of this game. Missed chances and poor defending were once again ultimately their undoing.

Coach Fernando Hierro desperate to end the run of away defeats tinkered with not only the formation but the personnel as well. He opted for a 3-5-2 formation, which switched to 5-3-2 when we didn’t have the ball. There were surprise recalls for Varela and Diegui in the wide defensive positions.

Oviedo made a lively start and had a couple of efforts inside the opening ten minutes through David Rocha and Lucas Torro but both were from long range and off target. In truth the first half was short in goalmouth action with the only real chance falling to the home side on 25 minutes. Pozo crossed for Javi Alamo who was unmarked at the far post but his volley went just wide. It was a let off for Oviedo in truth, as he really should have scored. On the stroke of half time, Oviedo thought they had taken the lead when Verdes bundled the ball into the net from close range but the referee disallowed the goal after ruling Christian had impeded the goalkeeper Casto.

Oviedo got off to the worst possible start in the second half as it was just 3 minutes old when Almeria took the lead. Juan Carlos saved Pozo's initial effort after he was unmarked at the far post ball the ball went back out to the penalty spot and there was centre back Borja to curl home a precise finish to put the bottom side into the lead.

As has often been the case this season, it has taken falling behind to make Oviedo come out of their shell and today was no different.

On 55 minutes we really should have levelled the game. Rocha somehow shooting straight at Casto from 6 yards after Toche's pull back. The midfield man really should have found the back of the net. Moments later and Hector Verdes fired wide from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy after Toche had seen his effort saved from Casto.

Oviedo were really turning the screw. Christian and Rocha went close from long range and Susaeta's ball fired across the 6-yard box somehow evaded a touch. After 35 minutes of almost constant Oviedo pressure the inevitable happened and Almeria doubled their lead with a counter attack with their first chance since the opening goal. A swift move down the right resulted in Alamo crossing for Quique to bundle the ball home with his chest.

To add insult to injury the home side added a third or should I say, we handed them a third with a what can only be described as a calamitous piece of defending when Fernandez and Varela made a complete horlicks of a simple piece of defending allowing the ball to run perfectly for substitute Gaspar. He said thank you very much and curled home to round off another miserable away day for Los Carbayones. This is now a worrying fifth loss on the trot on the road, something we must address sooner rather than later.

Next week we are back in the sanctuary of the Carlos Tartiere as Mallorca are the visitors.

　
John Mothershaw