Alavés 2-1 Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad's hopes of promotion this season all but disappeared yesterday after losing to rivals Alavés. This is the team of course who defeated Real in the final game of last season at the same venue to end the promotion dream and they have hit a hammer blow again. Things looked rosy in the first half as both teams battled hard and looked hungry for the win. On 39 mins Marcos swung in a cross from the left and Abreu powered a header past the keeper. In the second half Real Sociedad barely looked troubled as Alaves started to control the match and have most of the ball. It wasn't until the 65th minute when Javi Guerra scored from a corner you got the sinking feeling that this wasn't going to be Real Sociedads night again. As the game moved into the final five minutes the thought of losing 3 games in a row was unthinkable but when Almirón scored on 85 minutes from another corner the nightmare became a reality.

Another late goal. Another defeat to a team we should be beating. Another good performance with nothing to show for it and now 1 point from a possible 12 in the last four games. Its difficult to pinpoint exactly what has gone wrong. Perhaps Coach Lillo just isn't the man for the job. Its unlikely he will be replaced at this stage of the season but something is going wrong. The defence seem to lose all concentration in the final 10 minutes of games and forget the basics of defending. He persists on giving Necati Ates game time but its looking ever more possible the striker will go all season without a single goal. Off-field turmoil obviously hasn't helped and too a degree it must affect the players but something needs to be done quick to stop the freefall in the league. The players need to get psyched up for one final push. Next Sundays home tie against Sevilla Atletico must be looked upon as a cup final and every game after that and if a run of victories can be put together then there is still hope, and when you have hope anything is possible.

Alaves: Bernardo; Caesar Almirón, Garro (Kalderon, 83 mins), Albacar; De Marcos (Igor, 76 mins), Astudillo, Emilio, Llorente, Javi Guerra Juanjo (Garitano 83 mins).

Real Sociedad: Bravo, Gerardo, Labaka, Ansotegi, Castillo, Rivas (Necati, 87 mins), Aranburu (Estrada, 62 mins), Xabi Prieto, Sergio, Marcos; Abreu.