19/11/17 – Images courtesy of UDLasPalmas.es
Las Palmas entertain mid-table Levante. LP must start winning and break this losing streak which is now 8 games in a row. This is a good chance to pick up the much needed 3pts.
10 minutes gone no real chances for either side. Then in the 12th minute, the first chance of the match falls to the away side but it was wasted at the far post.
3 minutes later and the best chance so far to Levante but Raul, in the home goal, makes a good save.
First yellow card to Levante’s Campana who pulls Vicente back to slow down a quick break from LP.
Good work by Raul in the home goal cutting out a cross after a quick break by the visitors
25th minute sees Las Palmas first real chance of the match so far, good move down the left, nice ball by Viera sets up Calleri who slots home in the bottom corner, but unluckily the goal is disallowed for offside. Loyal UDLP fans in the UK report in with The Saint straight away, one message from Michael Wheatley, watching from his sofa in Burton, says “it was a good goal!” So really unlucky there!!
Another good move from home team but this time it’s Vitolo who breaks left, crosses to the centre but no one is there. I think he should have taken it on his own and made the shot himself there.
Another good move by home time but nobody wants to shoot, nice one-touch play but in the end no-one is taking responsibility to take a shot and the away keeper makes an easy save.
The home team on top now. They need to take one of these chances.
33 minutes in and a good save by home keeper Raul after a good shot on the edge of the box from Levante.
Poor play by LP, they keep giving the ball away in dangerous areas, needlessly putting themselves under pressure.
Good play follows, Calleri twice has half chances but again wastes them.
Half-time – Las Palmas 0 Levante 0
The Opinion of The Saint – Quite an open game, both sides have half chances but Las Palmas need to make the most of the pressure they are putting on the visitors. They were unlucky with the disallowed goal but they must try to be more direct in the final 3rd.
Straight from kick-off the visitors get a great chance but well saved by Raul.
Tonight’s crowd of 26,212, a great improvement but mostly made up of local schoolboy teams, given free tickets. Great for the future, but not a true reflection on the attendance, with many fans staying away due to very poor performances over recent weeks.
Jonathan Viera is brought down on edge of the box, gifting a good chance with the free kick. But Viera himself fires it straight into the wall, another wasted opportunity.
A nice break by the home team, sees Viera set Tana up but his shot is easily saved.
On 65minutes the best chance of the game for the home team, strong shot by Calleri but Oier in the away goal pulls off an excellent save.
A dangerous free kick from the visitors flies just over the top
On 70 minutes Levante break down the left wing, cross the ball and Doukoure who plants his header in the left corner, leaving Raul with no chances. 1-0 to visitors. This was against the run of play but you could see it happening, it was predictable.
More good play from the visitors,Levante’s Jason cuts in from the left hand side and sees his shot go straight in the top corner 2-0.
Las Palmas huff and puff in the last 10mins but to no avail, no joy and no real chances as Levante see out the game.
The Verdict of The Saint – LP didn’t take their chances in 1st half, but after conceding you could see the confidence drain from the team.
After the 2nd goal went in, Levante just kept men behind the ball and sadly LP couldn’t break them down.
In the final minutes, the crowd again turned their frustration toward the owner and manager whose record now is played 8 lost 8!!!!
My last game for a while and I hope on my return in the spring they will be in a better state but on performance so far this season I’m afraid to say we might be already be in danger of going down. I think the manager needs to go and get someone in who will keep us up!!
Next home match see’s the return of Quique Setien when we take on 8th place Real Betis on Sunday 3rd December – 20.45 KO.
PIO PIO – keep the faith
