Javi Gracia moans about the defensive lapses after the tie with Alaves

Ximo Navarro

and

Lucas Perez

scored two goals helping

lead the game, which was altered during the last 20 minutes as

Manu Vallejo

and

Hugo Guillamon

scored the drawing goals leaving Valencia with one point.

is the 8th and Alaves is the 14th on the table with two points behind.

“

It’s a situation that is occurring quite regularly and that we have to try to improve,

” Gracia said. “

It’s difficult for us to focus on the games, to go out with the same intensity when the game turns against us. It’s difficult to move forward when we concede so much, even though the team is capable of coming back like today

.

“

Before the games we talk about it, and we give great importance to starting well with the intensity required by the games. After our victory against Real Madrid and the two-week break, we have made an effort to concentrate all the players and ensure that they’re aware of just how important the game against Alaves was

.

“[

The players] know better than anyone that we have to win and they’re angry for not having been able to do so. I’m angrier by the first half, and how we allowed our rival to get so

far

away from us. We need to be more solid in defence, and we shouldn’t have to rely on scoring goals to get out of these situations.”

Valencia, playing against

next weekend, do not play for the European competition this season. Deportivo Alaves have a formidable two weeks ahead. On Saturday, they are going into battle with the former champions,

, and fighting this season’s titleholder,

, the next day.