Lotina defends keeper's gaffes as Espanyol slip
MADRID, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Espanyol coach Miguel Angel Lotina defended Cameroon goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, who was at fault for both goals as the Catalans lost 2-0 to Primera Liga leaders Osasuna.
'When you lose the whole team loses. It wasn't Carlos's afternoon but everyone is responsible for the defeat and is confident that it was just an off day,' Lotina told sports daily Sport on Monday. Kameni seemed to have David Lopez's cross-cum-shot from wide on the right in the 29th minute covered as he ran backwards to catch it under the bar on Sunday. The 21-year-old threw the ball back into play but the linesman flagged for a goal because Kameni's momentum appeared to carry him and the ball over the line. Television replays were inconclusive. 'I don't understand why the referee let the game play on a few seconds, and then stopped everything to declare a goal,' said Kameni. Midway through the second half Kameni air-kicked a harmless ball in the area which allowed compatriot Pierre Webo to collect and square for Inaki Munoz to score. The defeat left Espanyol second from bottom in the table with eight points from 10 games, and put more pressure on coach Lotina. 'I am not worried about my position,' Lotina added. 'Coaches carry out their jobs until a boss says he doesn't like our tie or our haircut. It is out of my control anyway. 'All I care about is that the team didn't respond today but I am sure that with hard work the points will arrive soon.' Lotina led Espanyol to fifth in the table last season.
