Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido has hailed his side's fighting spirit after seeing them snatch an unlikely draw at Sporting Gijon. El Submarino Amarillo had looked destined to suffer only their second La Liga defeat of the season, as they entered injury time at El Molinon trailing 1-0 and with a man less following the 77th-minute dismissal of captain Gonzalo Rodriguez.

However, Villarreal salvaged a point after being awarded a last-gasp penalty, with striker Giuseppe Rossi rolling in his sixth league goal of the campaign in what was his 100th appearance for the club in the Spanish top flight.

"It was a very strange game, but for the circumstances that we found, this result should leave us happy because we've fought back at a difficult ground and with a player less," reflected Garrido. "We had to overcome a lot of factors at a very complicated ground.

This result should leave us happy because we've fought back at a difficult ground and with a player less. A game like that strengthens our self-esteem.
Juan Carlos Garrido on his Villarreal side's 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon

"The situation was difficult for us and with everything that happened towards the end, a game like that strengthens our self-esteem. We were able to recover and get back into the match, while clearly showing that we were having a good game and deserved more. In fact, I'm convinced that we could have won."

Villarreal, who have now picked up 20 from a possible 24 points since losing to Real Sociedad on the opening day of the season, dropped to third spot following the draw, three points behind leaders Real Madrid and two adrift of Barcelona.

"Right now the team is showing a great deal of enthusiasm and the players are committed to what we are trying to do," said Garrido. "We must continue along this path."