Hercules CF vs Espanyol preview - Verdu out to end horror run

Espanyol midfielder Joan Verdu insists the club's fans should keep faith with their team despite their recent dismal record in the Primera Division.

Espanyol's 2-1 defeat at home to Racing Santander last weekend was an eighth defeat in 10 league matches for the Barcelona-based side and saw the Catalans drop out of the top six for the first time since the sixth round of the championship.

Espanyol now travel to lowly Hercules and Verdu believes only confidence is lacking.

"A few months ago it seemed as if we were (one of) the best (teams in the league) and now I don't think we can be the worst," he said.

"What we are lacking now is confidence and we will get that by winning our next match."

And the midfielder believes European qualification remains a possibility for his side.

"We have eight finals left and we won't rule anything out," he said.

Espanyol still have injury problems, with Sergio Garcia, Raul Baena, David Garcia and Ivan de la Pena all sidelined.

Veteran midfielder Javier Farinos is out for Hercules, meanwhile, while striker David Trezeguet is also sidelined for the Alicante-based side.

New Hercules coach Miroslav Djukic began life at the club with a win last weekend, when his side beat Real Sociedad 3-1 away from home.

Despite that result, they remain in the relegation zone.

But defender Abraham Paz has ordered fans and players alike to concentrate on the future - and not the past.

"The past is gone and we can't change that," he said.

"But we can change the future - it's in our hands."