Valladolid 0 - 0 Xerez

Ziganda urges ``fearless'' Xerez

Updated: November 7, 2009, 12:31 PM UK

Xerez coach Jose Angel Ziganda wants his struggling side to be brave and play without fear as the top-flight newcomers go in search of only their second victory of the season against improving Real Valladolid.

Xerez, playing in the Primera Division for the first time in their 62-year history, are stuck in the bottom two after a poor start which has also seen them net just three goals - two of which came in that sole victory over Villarreal.

Now the Andalusian side take on a Valladolid outfit who up until recently had been in dire form, failing to win any of their final 11 games last season and winning just one of their opening seven games this term.

However, the Castilian club look to have turned the corner now, starting with their brilliant 4-0 home win over high-flying Deportivo La Coruna.

They then followed that up with good results against two more in-form sides, beating Real Mallorca in the Copa del Rey and last weekend drawing at Espanyol.

Xerez will probably wish they could have met Jose Luis Mendilibar's men a month ago, but Ziganda is confident his team can still come away from the Jose Zorrilla stadium with all three points tomorrow.

He said: "We're aware how hard it is to win games. (But) I feel that with this team we are capable of winning at any ground. We have the capacity of beating any team in the division. We have to be convinced of that.

"We have to give our best and play without fear. We need to be brave and go for the game.''

The match is the first of what could be a crucial month of fixtures for Xerez, who after Valladolid face three more sides whose main aim this season will also be to avoid the drop - Osasuna, Sporting Gijon and Getafe.

A good run in those games would give Xerez a massive boost ahead of the games that follow in December, with big guns Barcelona and Atletico Madrid coming up before the Christmas break.

"We are all conscious of the games that we are going to play. Against Valladolid we have to be capable of winning. It's an important encounter,'' added Ziganda, who believes his side are on the right path despite losing their two games at home to Osasuna and Sevilla.

"I hope we continue along the same line. A team like Xerez has to compete with other teams toe to toe. We have to fight and run more than our opponents. Valladolid are a different type of opponent but we have to have the same mentality.

"Valladolid know how to play and Mendilibar knows how to get the best out of his players. Now they starting a good run after the draw last week and the victory against Deportivo. They will be full of confidence.''

Despite his side's good recent run and Xerez's troubles, though, Mendilibar has warned against complacency ahead of thematch.

"We are going to have to fight hard to beat Xerez. They are a brave team and deserved much more against Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. At some point they will start making the most of their chances, and I'm sure they will continue fighting against the drop right to the end,'' he said.