The Return of The Saint: Las Palmas v Mallorca

17/3/19

After my 3 month long midseason break The Saint returns to find yet another new manager. That’s 7 in 2 seasons!!!!! Now it’s the ex West Brom Manager Pepe Mel. Lets hope he can turn things around for beleaguered UD Las Palmas.

LP are sitting mid-table, still drawing in far too many games. But after a good away win at Deportivo last Sunday (10 March), the home fans are hoping for an upbeat performance and a home win against the Balearic side who sit 2 places above them.

5mins gone and Mallorca win the first corner of the night. They have started as the much livelier of the 2 teams.

Images courtesy of UDLasPalmas.es

Then on 8mins, a good move down the left, with the ball played into the box and a lovely flick by Rafa Mir finds the back of the net. 1-0 LP. Totally against the run of play.

Still more pressure from the away side and on 17mins, their left winger strolls unchallenged into the box and squares to Budimir who slots the ball into a empty net. 1-1

26mins a great advantage played by the ref letting LP break, but Mir’s angle is too tight and is saved.

2 minutes later a chance for Mallorca, more poor marking leaves their midfield player clean and through but for a good save by Raul.

Then a quick break by LP, Momo goes clear down the left wing but his shot is easily saved by the away keeper when Momo needed to have pulled the ball back for a tap in.

Half Time – Las Palmas 1 Mallorca 1

The Saint’s Half Time Verdict – An even half of football with both sides making basic mistakes. LP will be disappointed in the way they gave up their lead and conceded an otherwise poor goal. LP need to get Mir more involved as he looks dangerous upfront.

Images courtesy of UDLasPalmas.es

60mins gone but still no chances for either side.

Then in the 61st minute a good break from Mallorca but Budimir sees his shot go just wide off the far post, followed quickly by another good chance for the visitors, but this time the shot is easily saved.

Mir gets into a good position on the right wing but delivers a poor centre.

74mins and a big chance for Mallorca but somehow they miss from just a few yards out. The game has started to open up now, however its at the wrong end. A free kick is played into the box, finds the unmarked Raillo who plants his header into the net 1-2.
LP make a couple of substitutions to try and get back into the game but fail to make any more good chances.

Full Time – Las Palmas 1 Mallorca 2

The Saint Verdict – a fair bit very disappointing result. After the good away win last week the home fans were hoping for a win and a good performance but the team fail to Delivery on both counts. Mallorca looked the better side and deserved their win. LP lack service to the front 2 and failed to produce any good chances apart from the goal. The new manager has certainly got his work cut out over the next few months but will he get the chance to try and turn things around with the chairman very keen on changing the manager when things goes wrong !!!

Next home match – Elche 31/3/19 19.00 KO PIO PIO