Valencia manager Gary Neville has admitted that he would not be celebrating after finally claiming his first win in La Liga at the tenth time of asking.
Los Che looked to be heading for another defeat on Saturday as lowly Espanyol took the advantage at the Mestalla, before two goals in the space of five second-half minutes handed Neville's side all three points.
"I think what the game tells us today is football isn't about putting on the best performance, but today we got the result," the former Sky Sports pundit told reporters after the game. "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.
"Relief's probably a good word in some ways to describe what I felt. The last four minutes can be a long time in football at the end of a game. I wanted the final whistle to come as quickly as possible. I saw the reaction of the fans, of the players. I think [10 games without a win] is far too long for this club.
"The most incredible bit was the fans stayed with us, they stayed with every single player, they stayed with me. It's not down to tactics, it's not down to the coach, it's down to the fans and the way they responded after the goal. The game turned into an emotional game, the fans were pushing us forward, throwing us forward. We suffered a little bit but got there in the end and that's the important thing."
Neville also admitted that he was in "a fight" as his side, who are now 20 points adrift of the top four and seven clear of relegation, look to arrest their poor run of form and ascend the table.
"Hopefully we'll push on from this and get more confident," he said. "That's what I want, that's what I hope for.
"In terms of media and fan reaction, they are well within their rights to say what they've been saying. I'd be saying them as a journalist, as a fan. I'm not expecting to be shielded or protected. I thrive on it. From my point of view I know I'm in a fight."
Next up for Valencia is a round-of-32 Europa League tie with Austrian side Rapid Vienna on Thursday.
Neil Wilkes
