Anyone know a good marriage guideance councillor? The relationship between fans and club at CD Tenerife is going through a very rocky patch, the frustration was clear to see in the 1-1 home draw with Numancia in Santa Cruz. The Frente Blanquiazul peña (fan Club) held a first half strike, leaving their area clear and refusing to sign and shout as a pitch side banner appealed to the players “Earn Our Support”. Many fans didn’t agree with this move and tried to boost their own vocal support but although the enthusiasm was there, without the usual focal point it was sporadic and short lived.

At least all the media attention in the preceeding week would have left the players in no doubt of their responsibilities but their response was half hearted. For most of the first half Nino was left gazing up at the constant high balls that were pumped vaquely goalwards, a crazy tactic that gave the little lone striker no chance. Coach Mandia shuffled the pack again, this time bringing Prieto in for Melli in the heart of defence and adding Natalio to play just behind Nino. Tenerife had chances, Hidalgo was through on the keeper who went down rolling thetrically as they clashed. Then there was an incredible sequence when the ball just wouldn’t go in the visitors goal despite desperate lunges from Hidalgo and Natalio who had the keeper beat 0nly for Lopez to clear on the line. Numancia took the lead just after the half hour from a counter attack with Flaño netting from a cross cum shot.

With the arrival of half time the vacant area behind the goal filled up and the second half opened to a rousing reception but the protest hadn’t achieved its impact on the players and certainly hadn’t motivated them. Things were a little better in the second half, Iriome and Julio Alvarez came on for Hidalgo and Natalio but too often Tenerife moves fell apart. Omar joined the action and nearly brought an instant response as he fed Nino who missed the target. Numancia were nothing special but did the basics well, Tenerife looked unsure in key areas and Beranger is an accident waiting to happen at left back.

Finally some joy as Tenerife pressured the Numancia goal and a scramble saw Mikel Alonso get the final touch just ahead of Prieto. With nearly ten minutes left there could have been a grandstand finish but Alvarez underlined the lack of discipline in the team by talking his way to a red card. The referee made an awful call and Alvarez wasn’t shy in letting him have his opinion, but despite being booked and told to cool it, he carried on tearing into the ref and out came the red.

A draw was generous to Tenerife, the dissenting voices in the 16,110 crowd had plenty to complain about and we were left wondering, where to next. Culebras the former Tenerife defender, inexplicably allowed to leave in the summer, ran to the Grada Popular end after the whistle, threw his shirt to the crowd, clapped and then held his arms across his chest in the sign of the Tenerife cross to show he still has a deep affection for CDT. If only a Tenerife player could have shown such class, a small gesture like that might have helped to heal the wounds that are growing deeper by the week.