Gary Neville was relieved to earn his first league win as Valencia manager but said there would be no celebration as he still has a big job to do.

Valencia claimed their first win in 10 games under Neville with Saturday's 2-1 victory over struggling Espanyol.

"I'm happy with it, but it's just one small step forward. Relief is probably a good word," said Neville, 40.

"Fans and media have been within their rights to say the things they are saying. I'd have said the same."

Relive Neville's first La Liga win

Espanyol had lost their last eight away league games but went ahead through a Oscar Duarte header after 52 minutes, continuing Valencia's record of never having led a league game under Neville.

The home side equalised when substitute Alvaro Negredo scored with a deflected effort in the 71st-minute.

And on-loan Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev then headed the winner as Neville's side moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.

England coach Neville admitted this was a game he needed to win after overseeing four defeats and five draws in the league since taking on his first managerial position in December.

The former Manchester United captain had come under pressure from supporters following the poor run of results and a 7-0 loss at Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.

'Not about best performance'

Valencia finished fourth last season, but had not won in the league since 7 November going into Saturday's game.

"The fans were incredible tonight, especially when we went 1-0 down," said Neville. "They stayed with every single player, and me, and I am grateful for that.

"The game tells us that football is not about putting on the best performance. But today we got the result.

"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."

Former Liverpool coach joins Neville's staff

Meanwhile, Neville has added former Liverpool and Valencia assistant manager Pako Ayestaran to his coaching team.

Ayestaran will supplement Neville's existing staff, which includes brother and ex-Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville.

Ayestaran, 53, was Valencia's number two between 2001-04 before filling a similar role for three years at Liverpool under Rafa Benitez and has since managed in Israel and Mexico.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Valencia

• 1Diego Alves
• 2Cavaco Cancelo
• 4Santos
• 23AbdennourSubstituted forNunes Vezoat 7'minutes
• 6Siqueira
• 10Parejo
• 15PérezBooked at 33mins
• 8Feghouli
• 17RodrigoSubstituted forNegredoat 58'minutes
• 24CheryshevSubstituted forBarragánat 84'minutes
• 9Alcácer García

Substitutes

• 3Nunes Vezo
• 7Negredo
• 11Piatti
• 12Barbosa da Silva
• 16Bakkali
• 19Barragán
• 25Ryan

Espanyol

• 13López Sabata
• 16López Rodríguez
• 22González SoberónBooked at 13mins
• 24Duarte
• 5Álvarez Delgado
• 25Asensio
• 12DiopBooked at 43mins
• 10González CasanovaBooked at 58mins
• 9Franco AlvizSubstituted forRocoat 80'minutes
• 20CaicedoSubstituted forSánchez Mataat 66'minutes
• 28Sylla DialloSubstituted forMoreno Balagueróat 12'minutes

Substitutes

• 3Duarte
• 4Sánchez Mata
• 6Roco
• 7Moreno Balagueró
• 8Sevilla López
• 19Jordán Moreno
• 26Prieto Albert

Referee:

Carlos del Cerro Grande

Attendance:

34,689

Match Stats

Home TeamValenciaAway TeamEspanyol

Possession

Home58%

Away42%

Shots

Home17

Away19

Shots on Target

Home4

Away6

Corners

Home9

Away9

Fouls

Home8

Away19

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Valencia 2, Espanyol 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Valencia 2, Espanyol 1.

Posted at 90'+5'

Attempt blocked. Enzo Pérez (Valencia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Paco Alcácer.

Posted at 90'+4'

Corner, Valencia. Conceded by Óscar Duarte.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Espanyol. Conceded by Aderlan Santos.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Víctor Sánchez with a cross.

Posted at 88'

Attempt missed. Pape Diop (Espanyol) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Víctor Álvarez.

Posted at 86'

João Cancelo (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Víctor Álvarez (Espanyol).

Posted at 86'

Daniel Parejo (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Gerard Moreno (Espanyol).

Substitution

Posted at 84'

Substitution, Valencia. Antonio Barragán replaces Denis Cheryshev.

Posted at 84'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 83'

Delay in match Diego Alves (Valencia) because of an injury.

Posted at 82'

Attempt missed. Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.

Posted at 82'

Attempt saved. Álvaro González (Espanyol) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 82'

Corner, Espanyol. Conceded by João Cancelo.

Posted at 81'

Attempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Espanyol) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Espanyol. Enzo Roco replaces Burgui because of an injury.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

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