We stretched our unbeaten run to five games with a goalless draw at CD Mirandés despite Joan Sastre’s 75th minute red card.
Luis García warned of changes to his starting XI in his pre-match press conference ahead of entering a hectic fixture schedule of games every three days, and true to his word, made three alterations to the side which beat CD Lugo 1-0 on Matchday 5. Amath Ndiaye was handed his debut as a central striker in place of Alex Alegria, while Aleksandar Sedlar and Murilo were dropped in favour of the returning Iddrisu Baba and Lago Junior from international duty.
With the memory of reaching the Segunda B play-off final on our last visit to the Estadio Municipal de Anduva two years ago still fresh, we came racing out the blocks as Lago Junior fired wired on two occasions during the opening exchanges.
Early momentum began to slow however, forcing Manolo Reina to show why he had conceded just once so far this season with a fine save to top wide Erik Jirka’s rasping effort from the edge of the box in the 20th minute.
Salva Sevilla was inches away from given us the lead just past the half-hour mark as he managed to react fastest to a loose ball in the box, but his first-time volley crept just past the near post.
The midfielder’s strike was the closest we would come to breaking the deadlock as we headed into the dressing room having looked dangerous on the break, but unable to convert chances into goals.
We were almost punished for a sluggish start just one minute into the second half as a quick break from the hosts ended with Pablo Martinez turning Franco Russo and rattling the cross bar.
Settling back into our rhythm following the early scare, a promising counter attack saw Dani Rodríguez race into the box unmarked and connect with Lago Junior’s cross, but the advancing midfielder could only head into the arms of Raúl Lizoain.
Ndiaye, Lago Junior and Dani Rodríguez had caused problems all afternoon in-behind CD Mirandés’ defence with speedy breaks against the run of play, although Luis García looked to alter his forward line with the debut of Marc Cardona in the 64th minute.
As we chased a winner with advances into the hosts’ final third, Joan Sastre received his marching orders for a second bookable offence when he fouled Nicolas Jackson in an attempt to stop a dangerous counter-attack.
The numerical disadvantage curtailed our charges forward for the remaining 15 minutes, although we managed to weather CD Mirandes’ late surge to remain unbeaten and head home with a deserved point.
Games come thick and fast throughout the remainder of October and we will have to quickly turn our attention to the hosting of Albacete in four days’ time.
RCD Mallorca: Manolo Reina, Joan Sastre, Raíllo, Russo, B. Oliván (63’), Cufré, Baba, Lago Júnior (91’), Salva Sevilla (76’), Dani Rodríguez (76’), Amath (63’)
Substitutes: Miquel Parera, Pere Joan, De Galarreta (76’), Antonio Sánchez (91’), Trajkovski, Abdón, Fran Gámez (76’), Sedlar, Febas (63’), Alegría, Mboula, Marc Cardona (63’)
CD Mirandés: Raúl Lizoain, Víctor, Vivian, Berrocal, Jiménez, P. Martínez, Caballero (67’), Jirka (87’), Javi Muñoz, Iván Martín (76’), Schutte
Substitutes: Limones, Carlos Julio, Andrés G.M., M. Ezzarfani (87’), Genaro, Letic, N. Jackson (67’), P. Trigueros, Alberto G, P. Martínez, Moreno (76’)
