Deportivo La Coruna vs Almeria preview - Fernandez focused on results

Deportivo La Coruna coach Victor Fernandez insists his team need to be given more time before they start getting results, likening his side to "a newborn child".

Depor have struggled to find their feet since returning to the top flight this season and - although they picked up four points from their opening three games - they suffered an 8-2 mauling at the hands of Real Madrid last weekend and were beaten 2-1 by bitter local rivals Celta Vigo in mid-week.

But according to Fernandez, the Galicians are not far away from making things click.

He told reporters: "We know what we're striving to play like and what we want. We are like a newborn child that needs a lot of time to keep growing but we know what we want, and I think we know how to get it, we have the means and the ambition to do so.

"We don't want the agony of the Segunda Division, we want to enjoy the paradise of the Primera Division."

Depor's next game is at home to Almeria, which Fernandez called "a vital game, fundamentally because they are one of the teams that will be in the fight to avoid relegation along with us and so the points are worth a lot".

Fernandez also stressed how important beating Almeria was to his side's team spirit following the demoralising defeats to Real and Celta.

Almeria have one point more than Depor and made Atletico Madrid sweat for the three points on Wednesday, but coach Francisco Rodriguez does not believe his team's performance against last year's champions mean facing Depor will be any easier.

"For a team like us, every game in the Primera Division is difficult," he told a press conference.

The 36-year-old also highlighted the quality in Depor's squad.

He added: "They have players like (Helder) Postiga, Juanfran, Silvinho and (Alberto) Lopo, experienced players in the Primera Division who have played a lot of games in this league.

"They will make things difficult for us and we have to be realistic and know what type of game we're going to play."

Depor have a string of injury concerns ahead of the game, with Diogo Salomao, Lucas Perez and Juan Dominguez all ruled out, while Luis Farina, Pablo Insua and Ivan Cavaleiro doubtful. Almeria, meanwhile, have no fresh absentees.