Hercules CF vs Getafe preview - Tote: It`s a cup final

Posted Sunday, February 27, 2011 by PA

Hercules host Getafe with playmaker Tote admitting they are having to treat every home game like a cup final in their bid to avoid the drop.

Hercules start the weekend just two points above the relegation zone after losing five of their last six matches.

However, four of those defeats have come away from home, where the promoted outfit have done poorly this season with just one win recorded and three goals scored from 13 games.

Fortunately for the Alicante-based outfit they have been much better at home, where they have picked up 19 of their overall 25-point haul to keep out of the bottom three, but those statistics means the pressure is on Hercules to continue doing well at the Jose Rico Perez stadium.

Tote said: "It's not easy to play a final every game at our stadium, but that's what we've looked to do. We need to accept that and we know that every home game is very important and only a victory is worthwhile."

Tote was named on the bench for last weekend's defeat to Sevilla having started the previous victory over Real Zaragoza, and the former Real Madrid player will be hoping to be back in Esteban Vigo's first XI tomorrow.

"I still don't really know why one day I was a starter and the next I wasn't. However, when I play I try to enjoy it as much as possible and when I don't, to be calm," said the number 10.

"I won't accept resigning myself to the situation though, because if I did I would go home. That would suggest I don't care if I play or not. But in any case, the line-ups are not done by me."

Getafe make the trip to the east coast having lost 1-0 at home to Racing Santander last weekend, going down to an 88th-minute penalty.

Despite that defeat they are in a healthy position in La Liga, lying 10th on 31 points - eight points above the relegation places and six adrift of the European spots.

Getafe will be confident of avoiding the relegation dogfight, while coach Michel also believes Hercules will win their battle to stay up.

"Hercules are doing a very good job and I don't think they will have much trouble staying up," said Michel, who has strikers Manu del Moral and Javier Arizmendi available after injury.

"At home they are very powerful, and they have signed well without losing the essence of last season's side. They don't look like a recently-promoted team."