Ernesto Valverde was left with mixed emotions after Villarreal was left empty-handed despite a battling performance against Sevilla.

Villarreal found themselves trailing early on but hit back to lead 2-1 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan thanks to goals from Robert Pires and David Fuster.

At that stage improving Villarreal, who had taken just three points from their opening seven league games, were on course to record their fourth win in their last five competitive matches.

However, hosts Sevilla hit back with two goals in just seven minutes after Fuster's strike to take the spoils.

The defeat sees Villarreal drop back into the bottom five of the Primera Division and now a massive 15 points off leaders Barcelona with only 10 games gone.

Valverde said after the defeat: "We've got that bad taste in the mouth when you've done well but haven't got anything to show for it.

"After we went 2-1 up we didn't hang on to the advantage for very long and when they went ahead, we were unable to react.

"I'm not unhappy, I'm satisfied by how we played, but we play well to win. We`ve not won and the team was good. I`m optimistic, but this has to be accompanied by results.

"After the international break we must continue with the same desire as we have been showing, we have some difficult games coming up," added Valverde.