Gary Neville not expecting busy January transfer window for Valencia, despite not yet winning a La Liga game

The England assistant has seen his side draw two and lose one in the league since taking charge

Gary Neville (GETTY IMAGES)

Gary Neville has vowed Valencia will not rush to spend in the winter transfer window.

Head coach Neville presided over his first Primera Division defeat on Thursday as Villarreal claimed a 1-0 home victory in the derby.

The former Manchester United defender has not enjoyed a win in three league games since taking on his first club job as a coach, and Valencia have drifted 11 points away from a Champions League place.

They have also lost in the Champions League to Lyon, and the only win under Neville came in the Copa del Rey against minnows Barakaldo.

But Neville was impressed with the second-half show from his team against Villarreal, whose winner was a brilliant free-kick from captain Bruno Soriano.

He said: "It's easy to say 'let's lose a game of football then jump into the transfer market', but that's not how football should work for me.

"I've got five or six players returning between two to three days and two to three weeks. When the squad gets back to full fitness, at that point it's time to assess whether the squad needs strengthening.

"We will score goals if we play like we did in the second half."

The transfer window opens on Saturday and Neville will have a month in which to determine whether his squad needs strengthening.

He appreciates the distance to fourth place is a concern, with Villarreal currently the team in that prized last Champions League slot.

Neville said: "It was the best, most controlled 45 minutes I've had since I've been here, so I take the positives out of that, but obviously it's a huge disappointment because it means we're further behind Villarreal in the league, we've lost the game and we have to recover quickly now."

He added in a press conference shown on Valencia's website: "I accept defeat makes it more difficult for us but there are so many points to play for.

"Of course I want results, I am desperate for results as are the players, but what I'm equally desperate for is good performances."

PA