Al Fateh breathe life back into RSL survival fight - but Gomes demands more

Having accrued six points in their opening 15 Roshn Saudi League matches this season, Al Fateh then gleaned seven from their next five.

Friday’s upset victory at a seemingly resurgent Al Ettifaq was sealed by first-half goals from veteran Mourad Batna and Algerian striker Sofiane Bendebka, the 2-1 triumph making it two wins in little more than three weeks.

Nearly six months separated Al Fateh’s first and second victory this term.

But, finally, they have found something to cling to. In between last month’s win at home to Damac and Friday’s victory in Dammam, there was the hughely commendable home draw against high-flying Al Qadsiah, in Matchweek 18.

Al Fateh’s other two RSL outings amid this period may have ended in defeat, but they lost to two of the most in-form teams in the division, in Al Nassr and Al Ahli.

Still, last weekend’s victory at Al Ettifaq feels a potentially season-salvaging result. Of course, Al Fateh remain rooted to the bottom of the RSL after 20 rounds. However, their recent reinvigoration has dragged them to level on points with 17th-placed Al Wehda and one back from Al Raed in 16th.

Crucially, to three from Al Okhdood in 15th. To, technically, within another win from breaking free of the drop zone.

In turn, the run has breathed life back into Al Fateh’s fight for survival. Little wonder, then, that manager Jose Gomes was full of praise for his players following the Al Ettifaq triumph.

“It was like all the games in the [Roshn] Saudi League: a very tough game,” said the Portuguese tactician, drafted into the club during the winter break to replace Swede Jens Gustafsson. “My players were brave and showed on the pitch our game plan.

“And they had to their organisation and also the fighting spirit and attitude that we needed to achieve the level that we can. We can be even better, but the difference today and some games we didn’t win was the level of our attitude.”

Gomes, who previously managed in the RSL with Al Taawoun and Al Ahli, is in no doubt as to what it will take for Al Fateh, Saudi champions in 2012-13, to secure the greatest of great escapes.

That continues on Thursday, when the Ahsa club host an Al Orobah side with red-hot record-setter Omar Al Somah now in their ranks. At 13th in the standings, they sit four points from Al Fateh.

“We need consistency,” Gomes said. “We need to show that, game-by-game, we can do it. Even the last game against [Al] Ahli, a very difficult team, minute 14 until minute 37 or 38 we played with 10 players, and even in this period we cannot say we played worse than them.

“So, keep this consistency, keep working as we have been working, and everything will be what we want.”