Albacete 1 - 0 Espanyol

Albacete v Espanyol: Preview

Updated: October 2, 2004, 10:35 AM UK

Espanyol coach Miguel Angel Lotina has urged his players not to get carried away with their promising start to the season - and to concentrate on getting three points from the trip to Albacete.

The former Celta Vigo coach saw his side slump to a 1-0 defeat against Getafe in their last away match and is determined not to see a repeat performance.

Espanyol were well below their best when they went down to Getafe on September 22 and were particularly disappointed after having beaten Real Madrid just four days earlier.

The Catalan side responded well last weekend with a 1-0 win over Malaga thanks to a strike from Ivan de la Pena, which took their points haul to 10 from their first five games. They are just three behind joint table-toppers Valencia and Barcelona.

But Lotina is warning his side against complacency when they visit winless Albacete.

"If we go there too confident we are not going to have any chance. We are going to have to leave the confidence in Barcelona," said Lotina.

"Albacete are an interesting team with players who are experienced in the Primera Liga. They are a team that defends well and plays good football. Their position in the table does lie a bit.

"I want my team to do the easy things well, I don't want them to do extraordinary things. We have to do defend well, use the ball, help our team-mates and always look to score.

"I don't want to end the dream of the players to do well this season but my optimism is based on what I see on the field and this is what I am saying in the press conferences.

"The difference between a team that is successful and one that isn't is their tenacity, consistency and their ability not to make basic mistakes."

Alex Fernandez has not been a regular in Lotina's line-ups this term but has been an important player nonetheless, starting several games and coming off the bench to good effect in others.

And the midfielder is content to take any chances that come his way in the side.

"The decision about who plays is the coach's and the players must respect that and be ready for when they have the chance to play. I have had opportunities and all I have to do is to take advantage of that," he said.

Espanyol will be without defender David Garcia and striker Dani Garcia while frontman Martin Posse and defender Toni Soldevilla are both out of favour, and are also unlikely to feature.

Albacete followed up their opening three defeats of the season with two goalless draws and they will be hoping to continue their good defensive record against Espanyol.

But Chilean midfielder Mark Gonzalez has a thigh strain and will miss the clash as well as his country's World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador on October 10 and Argentina three days later.