Real Mallorca dropped back into the relegation bottom four of the Spanish second division and returned into intensive care when they lost 2-1 to Osasuna at a distinctly chilly El Sadar stadium in Pamplona on Sunday night.
After six games unbeaten (four draws and two victories) the islanders went two goals down with just 12 minutes on the clock after some calamitous defending. Osasuna's opener couldn't have been easier. They forced a corner after ten minutes and from it Unai Garcia headed in unchallenged with the Mallorca defence asleep, 1-0. Two minutes later and the game looked up as the home side doubled their lead. A speculative shot from Ojer Sanjurjo outside the area hit the leg of Mallorca defender Oriol wrong-footing Cabrero in the Palma team's goal and it was 2-0.
With Mallorca failing to score in their last two games, it was like mission impossible for the Palma side. But they pulled one back in the 19th minute when ex-Osasuna player Corominas got on the end of a Campabadal cross to halve the deficit. The goal was Coro's first touch of the ball but he had his best game this season after arriving in the summer after a pretty insignificant start to this campaign.
Our midfield then took control of proceedings and for about 30 minutes we played some of our best football of the season as we probed and pushed for an equaliser. But once again, our efforts in the final third of the pitch were feeble, most of them breaking down on the edge of the penalty area. After the break Mallorca lost what impetus they had at the end of the first 45 minutes and ex-Mallorca keeper Nauzet wasn't tested once in the second half. It was as if we'd just given up as Osasuna went into cruise control looking dangerous every time they came on the attack. They thoroughly deserved all three points which puts them back at the top of La Segunda.
SUMMING UP : This was my second trip to the lovely city of Pamplona in just over a year and it was such a change to see all the bars and restaurants on Sunday lunchtime packed to the rafters, unlike Palma. We travelled on a charter flight on Saturday morning with the team before indulging like bon viveurs in the local delectations.
It was also good to go to a proper football ground with proper noisy fans, all 14,000 of them, making a proper noise in a proper atmosphere. They also had proper programmes that were nigh on impossible to make paper aeroplanes out of. We drank in the home fans' bar without any hassle and they were saying Osasuna were a young team who would chase a piece of paper all day long for the coach and basically run themselves to a standstill every game. They were faster than us, passed the ball better and always looked dangerous coming forward.
However, for we 45 travelling fans, we witnessed the same old Mallorca who've struggled all season. Yes, we were denied a clear penalty when Sissoko was booked for diving but coach Ferrer once again erred on the side of caution and made some startling changes both before and during the game. Bianchi was left on the bench and only came on 20 minutes from the end, by which time Osasuna were in complete control. His replacement Coro scored the goal and put in a good shift alongside Sissoko so what does the coach do? Takes them both off near the end, bringing on two boys, Sastre and Damia, who struggled to make any impact. On the way back some Mallorca fans were saying that we have too many good players from whom the coach appears unable to pick a settled side each week. We haven't had a consecutive starting XI once this season.
Italian striker Rolando Bianchi appears to be a troubled man. He is evidently a real loner, both on and off the pitch and was on his own at Pamplona airport like “Billy-no-mates”. He doesn't speak much Spanish and sat on the plane beside Kasim Adams talking English. The fact that he's Mallorca's highest paid player, can't score goals for whatever reason, and is sitting on the bench when in reality he should be starting, looks like it's beginning to take its toll on him.
There were almost more Real Mallorca backroom staff on the plane than squad members and whatever they are trying to do with the players on the training ground simply isn't working. Once again the coach's position enters into the spotlight and Saturday's 4pm game against Lugo has taken on a new significance. We just have to win, otherwise this time it really could be the end for Albert “Chapi” Ferrer.