GRANADA ARE STILL ELCHE’S BOGEY SIDE!

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Elche 0 Granada 1
Two seasons ago in the play-off final for who goes up in third place to La Liga Granada went through only on away goals against Elche, both league matches and both matches in the two-legged final were drawn.

There was bitterness and ill-feeling after the result from the chairmen down, and this was the first meeting of the clubs since.

But although the result again went against Elche there was no sign of animosity on the pitch, in fact no-one in the Elche team on Saturday evening played in those matches – and it was just one of those days for the Illicitanos.

Granada’s form has not been good lately, but Elche’s has, winning their last three games and climbing to a respectable position mid-table, and form appeared to favour a home win. But this is football and anything can happen.

Following last week’s sending-off of replacement left back Cisma in the away win against Real Betis, utility man Mantecon was drafted in as cover: normally reliable Edu Albacar in that position is still out injured with a hamstring problem sustained several weeks ago in the Away win against Celta Vigo.

The rest of the defence as expected with Ruben Perez and Javi Marquez contesting the middle with Fidel and Carles Gil wide, and Coro supporting Manu del Moral up front.

This was a match won in midfield where Granada were superior, and the home side never managed to look in control. Elche had just one shot in the whole of the first half as the ever busy Carles Gil supplied Manu del Moral with a chance but the big ex-Seville forward blazed it way over.

On the half hour Elche conceded a free kick wide on the right, and the inswinging cross was met by Iturra’s firm header guided well wide of Herrera just inside the far post to put the visitors one up

In the second half Elche improved slightly but nowhere near enough and both midfielders Ruben Perez and Javi Marquez were sacrificed for forwards Richmond Boakye and Aaron by coach Fran Escriba in an effort to wrest something from the game, but it wasn’t to be, despite attempts from ever thrusting right back Damian Suarez, and Boakye, but neither could be termed a close chance, as Granada held their nerve and it has to be said looked the better team.

Boakye was injured in the final minutes of the match with abdominal and head problems caused by a dramatic collision and was carried off, spending a precautionary night in hospital. Should he have started the match?

One would have thought he is a better bet up front than Man del Moral who has started every game but only scored one goal, the first last week against Real Betis. On Saturday it was the midfield that lost the game, should Carlos ‘The Rock’ Sanchez also have started the game?

Before the match Elche’s hopes were high of a fourth successive win to take them well into the top half of La Liga, but it wasn’t to be and its back to the drawing board with avengeance for the next next two matches, Thursday evening away right up north in the Basque country to sixth placed Athletic Bilbao, and due to the forthcoming International break again at home on Monday 4th No November to old foes, high flying Villarreal in fourth. It’s never easy in la Liga…
Mucho Elche!

Following last week’s sending-off of replacement left back Cisma in the away win against Real Betis, utility man Mantecon was drafted in as cover: normally reliable Edu Albacar in that position is still out injured with a hamstring problem sustained several weeks ago in the Away win against Celta Vigo.

The rest of the defence as expected with Ruben Perez and Javi Marquez contesting the middle with Fidel and Carles Gil wide, and Coro supporting Manu del Moral up front.

This was a match won in midfield where Granada were superior, and the home side never managed to look in control. Elche had just one shot in the whole of the first half as the ever busy Carles Gil supplied Manu del Moral with a chance but the big ex-Seville forward blazed it way over.

On the half hour Elche conceded a free kick wide on the right, and the inswinging cross was met by Iturra’s firm header guided well wide of Herrera just inside the far post to put the visitors one up

In the second half Elche improved slightly but nowhere near enough and both midfielders Ruben Perez and Javi Marquez were sacrificed for forwards Richmond Boakye and Aaron by coach Fran Escriba in an effort to wrest something from the game, but it wasn’t to be, despite attempts from ever thrusting right back Damian Suarez, and Boakye, but neither could be termed a close chance, as Granada held their nerve and it has to be said looked the better team.

Boakye was injured in the final minutes of the match with abdominal and head problems caused by a dramatic collision and was carried off, spending a precautionary night in hospital. Should he have started the match? One would have thought he is a better bet up front than Man del Moral who has started every game but only scored one goal, the first last week against Real Betis.

On Saturday it was the midfield that lost the game, should Carlos ‘The Rock’ Sanchez also have started the game?

Before the match Elche’s hopes were high of a fourth successive win to take them well into the top half of La Liga, but it wasn’t to be and its back to the drawing board with avengeance for the next next two matches, Thursday evening away right up north in the Basque country to sixth placed Athletic Bilbao, and due to the forthcoming International break again at home on Monday 4th November to old foes, high flying Villarreal in fourth.

It’s never easy in la Liga…
Mucho Elche!

PHOTOS: KEVIN RENDALL

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/41184/

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