This Sunday Betis B lost 1-4 against Marbella Fútbol Club, who opened the scoring with two goals in the first twenty minutes and, even though the green-and-whites pulled one back before half time, they sentenced the match in their favour in the second half.

The Heliopolitan team, with changes in the starting eleven (Pedro, Jesús Muñoz, Álvaro González and Hinojosa), could have scored off their first offensive play but Marco Rosa did not find the back of the net with his shot. Shortly after Marbella FC were to try with a long 'shot' by Airam. On their second encroachment on the area they made it 0-1. Diego took advantage of a pass into a space and beat Pedro with a powerful shot. The number 10 from Marbella was to take centre stage just minutes later when he scored the second goal for the visiting team. Despite the setback, Merino's team did not lose faith and launched an attack to reduce the gap, which they managed to do thirty minutes into the match. Álvaro González centred in from the right and Edy, trying to annul Álex Alegría's shot, ended up putting into the back of his own goal. After that the reserves had their best minutes but they were not able to level the match despite attempts by Álvaro González and Álex Alegría.

Half time faired Marbella FC better who, just like they did in the first half, took advantage of their first advance on Pedro's goal to widen the gap on the scoreboard, this time it was Rubiato who scored. Juan Merino reacted with a double substitution, putting Ismael and Juanma on. And it was Juanma who had the best scoring opportunity in the second half for Betis B, he was in the perfect position to shoot but he did not connect well with a perfect free kick taken by Varela. Minutes later Betis B suffered another setback. Sergio, with his right foot, angled the ball into the back of the net making it impossible for Pedro to reach. That made the definitive 1-4 for Marbella FC against a Betis B who gave the youth player, Fabián, his chance to debut with the team at the end of the match and who will have the opportunity to get a better result on their visit to Granada CF B.

Betis B: Pedro, Rafa Navarro, Varela, Pozo, Jesús Muñoz, Carlos García, Álvaro González (Ismael, min. 58), David Hinojosa (Fabián, min. 70), Álex Alegría (Juanma, min. 58), Marco Rosa and Luis Madrigal.

Marbella FC: Toni, Gabi, Álex Herrera, Edy, Paco, Nacho, Airam, Añón, Rubiato (Carlos, min. 74), Diego (Sergio, min. 35) and José Hermosa (José Mari, min. 85).

Goals: 0-1, min. 10: Diego. 0-2, min. 19: Diego. 1-2, min. 29: Edy with an own goal. 1-3, min. 53: Rubiato. 1-4, min. 68: Sergio.

Juan Merino: “We have to improve a lot in defence”

After the match the Betis B coach, Juan Merino, attended the press in the pressroom to give his opinion on the defeat against Marbella Fútbol Club.

Opinion: “Right from the start the team responded with their football, possession and reach even when they were two goals down. And as a result they pulled one goal back. In the second half there was a play that could have levelled the match 2-2, but the referee signalled an off side that I believe did not exist. From a possible 2-2 we ended up two goals behind a rival that has yet to lose in the league and with a very solid defensive line. That unsettled the team, it is the first season for many of our players in the Second Division B and the state of nerves took its toll, they ran around looking a little lost and our opponents took advantage of that to counterattack creating a lot of danger. At no point did they lack attitude or intensity which would give me any cause to worry about or be upset with any of the players. Everything can be improved. We have to improve a lot in defence because we are conceding quite a few goals, especially in the opening stages. We have a lot of work to do to improve the team”.

Pedro as a starter in goal: “There are two goalkeepers with a brilliant future in Betis B. Despite Javi Montoya's performances to date, which in my opinion have been very good, I spoke to Pedro last week and I told him he would play. There is pressure on me to get results but I work for Real Betis, I am trying to develop players and both Pedro and Javi Montoya need to play with certain regularity. There is a lot of competition and as long as that continues I will keep playing both of them”.

The team's morale: “At the moment they players are destroyed, and that is as it should be. Any defeat, and particularly one like this, has to hurt but that shouldn't last more than a day or two. Tomorrow morning we will have to start helping those who played today to recover and increase the commitment of those who did not. They know full well that those players who train more intensely are the ones who are going to play”.

Improving morale: “I am a coach with a strong character and I pushed them throughout the first half, but when we conceded the third goal I could see that they were a little disconcerted so I was the first to encourage them. I was a footballer and I know how difficult these situations can be. When things are not going well you also need to feel the support, and more so from the coach. The first thing I told them in the changing room was that they should not worry because I am pleased with the work they put in and their intensity, but not with the result. The team has some problems but these can be fixed. I would prefer to lose one match 1-4 than four matches 0-1. I am sure that we will make a comeback”.