Real Murcia 2 Cordoba 1

It looked like it was going to be so easy at half-time. Two up, against ten men, playing well. We even had Cristian "Ruso" Garcia fluff a penalty (he tried a "Panenka", but managed to hit the bar) and then blast over an unmissable chance from about a yard. It could have been 4 - 0. But then we should have known that this is Real Murcia, and you never have an easy, calm, tranquil afternoon. Cordoba played well, managed to get themselves back in the game, got lucky as Real missed some good chances and hit the woodwork on the break, and then got a nice helping hand from yet another inept referee. Emilio's first yellow was a bit soft, and everyone could see (except the referee) he slipped and was unfortunate for his second. Down to 10 men Cordoba pressed hard but came up against a solid Real defence.

Real Murcia:
Alberto
Molinero - Jorge - Iván Amaya - Rubén Párraga
Iturra - Richi (Cerrajería 71') - Isaac Jové - Óscar Sánchez (Sutil 62')
Emilio - Cristian García (Chando 79')

Córdoba:
Alberto García
David Prieto - Gaspar - Fuentes - Lopez Garai
Hervas - López Silva (Vico 46') - Caballero - Borja
Pepe Díaz (Balsas 86') - Patiño (Quero 77')

Goals:
1-0 Emilio Sánchez 17'
2-0 Richi 40'
2-1 Patiño 57'

Referee: Mr. Lesma López. Had a good first half then lost it. Poorly assisted by one of his linesmen. Surely one of least demands to take such a role is to acually understand the offside rule. The fella didn't have a clue.

Att : 8.754 at the New Condomina. This is poor and I don't understand. We have 10,000 season ticket holders, which means 1.300 of them just didn't bother to turn up, this for a match that was the "to be or not to be" for Real Murcia. That's how deep some people's support runs. The fact our local TV channel (La 7) decide to screen home games live whilst usually leaving us with no TV for away games takes fans away. But many will have so been horrified at the chance of missing a Cristiano Ronaldo step-over (Real Madfrid kicked off at 8 p.m., just a few minutes after the game finished) that staying home was a better option. However this isn't just typical of Murcia. Fans stay away but when promotion is at stake in the last 2 games, all of a sudden they are there. Seeing Championship games in England.....with mid table sides filling their grounds to 75 or 80%....brings home just how fickle the spanish supporter is.

We are now very close to the play off zone, and on a 3 game winning streak. Next up Gerona away next Saturday. Another win....well....I wonder if it will shake the town into actually getting behind a promotion push?