Despite being a little over 15 days in the job, Setien has already come under fire for his results as Villarreal boss.
Winless from his first four in charge heading into the midweek fixtures, his side came close to taking a half-time lead, only for Espanyol goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte to deny Yeremy Pino’s driven strike with a sharp stop from close range.
While Setien may have felt down on his luck at the interval, a massive slice of fortune would put a smile on the Villarreal manager’s face midway through the second half, when a Lecomte own goal gave the visitors the lead.
Unable to react to Alberto Moreno’s cutback, the Espanyol shot stopper could do little but watch as the ball rebounded off him and into the back of the net.
Last victorious on the road in LaLiga over two months ago, the temptation of three points forced Villarreal to retreat, with goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli called upon numerous times.
First denying Keidi Bare with an instinctive stop, the 30-year-old would be on hand moments later to smother Oscar Gil’s well-struck effort.
The result is much-needed as far as Setien and Villarreal are concerned, with the Yellow Submarine moving into the top eight ahead of the World Cup break.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Gerónimo Rulli (Villarreal)
