Atletico Baleares 1-1 CD Castellón: Three things we learnt
After an balanced opening half an hour yesterday at the Estadi Balear, Castellón opened the scoring with a delightful goal from Dani Romera and things were looking good. The Albinegres were controlling the game, and keeping their opponents at bay. However football is a game of moments, and Cheikh Sarr’s blunder which allowed Baleares to equalise, combined with Raul Sanchez’s sending off moments later, made the last 15 minutes extremely tense. In fact, Atletico Baleares should have won the game, hitting the post twice after Castellón were reduced to 10 men.
As a result, there are very mixed feelings. Positive, as we controlled the game in large parts and looked in control (except for the blunder) with eleven men. But clearly frustrating, as we threw away the game from a winning position due to individual mistakes that should not be happening. Here are the three lessons we, as Castellón fans, can take from the game.
1. Dani Romera is the real deal.
Finding a striker who can get a goal at any moment is often the most challenging part for sides in lower divisions. After all, there are only so many players who are able to score consistently in any given division. One huge positive that we have seen in the first three games is that Castellón has one of the those players in Dani Romera. It’s the first time since 1964 that a Castellón player has scored three times in his first three games.
He is someone who can get shots away and score goals from relatively little. Take his goal in this weekend’s game. Kone’s cross was good, but it required a real instinct to control, and above all get a shot away to trouble the keeper. That striker’s instinct is what Dani has, and it’s clear that he will be the danger man this season. He has a very similar to profile to David Villa, with his pace and nose for goal. He’s already looking like our signing of the summer.
2. More discipline needed to close out games
In our three games so far this season, we have had the lead in every single one at half time. Yet, we come away from those games with four points from a possible nine. In the game against Baleares, there was a real moment to regroup after conceding, and stay calm. Unfortunately, the red card really changed the dynamic of the game, and it was all Atletico Baleares until the end.
Raul Sanchez’s second yellow was certainly debatable, but regardless, there are moments to avoid reckless contact and unneeded risks. Going in arm first into an aerial challenge when you know you are already on a yellow card is not advisable, especially as the referee had a strict disciplinary record entering the game.
This decision making in late games is something that will hopefully improve over time as the squad builds chemistry and gets more comfortable with each other, but the ability to see out games (or play badly and still win) is always a real difference maker when it comes to promotion.
3. A new goalkeeper, please.
Sounds harsh perhaps, as Cheikh Sarr isn’t even supposed to be number one. But let’s be honest, he hasn’t done a good job in the absence of Alfonso Pastor, and a long term option between the sticks needs to be a priority in upcoming transfer windows.
Sarr’s blunder was pretty much as bad it gets, and ultimately cost Castellón the win. A solid save to deny Baleares at the end saved a point, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the general feeling of unease when he is between the posts.
Alfonso Pastor is very promising, and fans can’t wait for him to make his debut (he was absent yesterday because of the death of his grandmother, RIP). But he is only on loan from Sevilla, and with a good season for Castellón, who knows what the chances are of getting him back next year. Having a solid, veteran goalkeeper in the squad to call on would appease all fans, me included.
