Valencia manager Gary Neville is trying to remain positive despite now going five games without a win in La Liga as Jonathas’s late double handed Real Sociedad a 2-0 triumph in San Sebastian.

Neville’s men had shown promising signs in holding Real Madrid 2-2 last weekend and a 4-0 thrashing of Granada in the Copa del Rey in midweek, but have now gone two months without a league win to almost certainly end their hopes of reaching the Champions League.

“It’s a blow, we needed momentum, but we played well below the expectations we have set ourselves,” said Neville. “We have to snap out of it and start winning. I can only ask the fans to be patient. The dressing room is disappointed, as am I, but tomorrow is a fresh start and we have to get the fans to believe.”

Valencia ‘keeper Jaume Domenech was at fault as he flapped at Carlos Martinez’s deflected cross and Jonathas bundled home from close range 12 minutes from time.

The same two players combined for the second four minutes later as the Brazilian this time thumped home the full-back’s cross with a bullet header into the corner.

Elsewhere, Cedric Bakambu struck twice as Villarreal moved to within three points of Barcelona with a 2-0 win over Sporting. Roberto Soldado provided the ammunition for both his strike partner’s goals with crosses that Bakambu clinically dispatched either side of half-time.

Eibar boosted their European hopes by beating Espanyol 2-1 for a third consecutive win. Takashi Inui had given Eibar a 15th-minute lead but it was quickly cancelled out by Joan Jordan only for Borja’s penalty 16 minutes from time to seal the victory.

Malaga’s four-match winning run ended with a 1-1 draw against Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. Roque Santa Cruz rescued a point for the visitors after Pedro Tana had opened the scoring