Granada 1-2 Espanyol: Tony Adams declares season 'a disaster' as his dreadful reign ends with seventh successive defeat

• e-mail

Tony Adams' ignominious spell as manager of relegated La Liga side Granada came to a farcical end on Friday night as they suffered a home defeat at the hands of Espanyol.

Adams, parachuted in from a director role, has lost all seven games in charge of the southern side, culminating in a 2-1 defeat which prompted the former England defender to brand the club's season 'a disaster'.

Espanyol benefited from dreadful Granada defending which left Adams livid on the touchline, going two up after eight minutes, before pulling one back through Andreas Pereira.

Tony Adams' ignominious spell as manager of relegated Granada came to a farcical end

Leo Baptistao gave Espanyol the lead after just three minutes following a defensive error

Manchester United loanee Andreas Pereira pulled a goal back for Granada with a fine finish

MATCH FACTS AND LEAGUE TABLE

Granada (4-2-3-1): Ochoa; Vezo, Lomban, Ingason, Hernandez; Krhin, Agbo (Hongla 77); Cuenca, Pereira (Jean Carlos 61), Entrena (Boga 84); Ramos

Unused subs: Rui Silva, Gaston Silva, Angban, Malle

Goal: Pereira 22 

Espanyol (4-4-2): Diego Lopez; Navarro, David Lopez, Reyes, Caricol; Jurado, Mata, Roca, Piatti (Alvarez 84); Baptistao (Perez 85), Moreno

Unused subs: Melendo, Vazquez, Duarte, Prieto, Caicedo

Goals: Baptistao 3, Vezo og 8

Bookings: Roca 62, Piatti 66, Alvarez 90+1

 

Advertisement

'This season has been a disaster, we must not make the same mistakes,' Adams said after the game.

'We have tried to do everything possible with these players to get the best of them.

'The main error this season have been the signings. The owner is aware that he has made many mistakes, but this is a long project.' 

Adams had earlier in the day caused controversy when the first extract from his new book was published, where he claimed his former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger 'could not coach his way out of a paper bag.'

Adams has lost all seven games in charge, culminating in a 2-1 defeat to Espanyol

Those comments looked set to come back to haunt Adams when a low cross from the left completely outfoxed Granada defender David Lomban, who while trying to back heel clear somehow flicked the ball out of the reach of his own goalkeeper.

With Guillermo Ochoa stranded, Leo Baptistao was able to tap home, and soon things got much worse for Adams.

On eight minutes another low Espanyol cross, this time from the right, was met by a sliding tackle from Granada right back Ruben Vezo, under no real pressure, which lobbed up and over the diving Ochoa.

Adams was left livid on the touchline, wagging his finger and yelling at anyone who would listen, causing referee Carlos Clos to have to come over and calm him down.

Granada did settle themselves, and grabbed one back through a fine finish by Manchester United loanee Pereira, who curled home with his right foot from 20 yards.

Granada, who had spent six seasons in La Liga, finish bottom of the table with 20 points

After the game Pereira said: 'I only want to ask forgiveness from our fans. This club has to continue forward.' 

It was yet another disappointing result for Adams, who has been completely unable to improve one of Spanish football's poorest outfits.

Granada, who had spent six seasons in La Liga, were relegated three weeks ago and finish bottom of the table with a meagre 20 points from 38 games.