Mate Bilic struck the winner as Sporting Gijon continued their excellent recent form with a 1-0 win at home to Villarreal.

The Croatia striker was alert to the rebound and scrambled the ball home from close-range after Alberto Rivera had seen his penalty parried by Diego Lopez 15 minutes from time.

Villarreal defender Gonzalo Rodriguez was sent off for the foul on Miguel De Las Cuevas and there was no way back after that for the 10-man visitors.

Sporting, in their second season back in the top flight, came into this game on the back of a fine eight-match unbeaten run in league and cup competitions.

That streak included excellent wins over Mallorca, Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao, as well as a creditable draw at home to Real Madrid.

The northerners looked less impressive last weekend, though, as they were held to a goalless draw with lowly Xerez.

Nevertheless, a win in this game would see them reach the landmark total of 20 points after just 12 rounds of the championship.

There was little between the two sides early on as the match got under way with an intensely-disputed midfield battle.

But Sporting gradually began to enjoy the better of the play and created the first chance of note after a quarter of an hour, when French centre-back Gregory Arnolin saw his snapshot saved by Diego Lopez.

It was a warning for Villarreal and six minutes later, the home side very nearly took the lead.

Sporting striker David Barral pounced on a defensive error from the visitors and rattled a blistering drive against the post.

It was best chance of an ultimately disappointing first half, which Sporting edged on both possession and chances.

Villarreal, in truth, had created absolutely nothing and would need to do better after the interval.

But the second half followed a similar pattern to the first and neither side looked likely early on.

Sporting were again shading it, but seemed to lack ideas against a Villarreal outfit superior in terms of their playing staff, if not in their playing quality on the night.

As the game wore on, a goalless draw appeared more and more likely, but the match was turned on its head with 18 minutes left, when Gonzalo brought down De Las Cuevas and the referee awarded the home side a penalty.

Gonzalo departed as well, following a red card, but Sporting almost fluffed their big chance, when Diego Lopez parried Rivera's spot-kick, but Bilic was on hand to blast home the rebound.

Sporting keeper Juan Pablo Colinas then did well to clean up at the other end, under pressure from Joseba Llorente, but the home side otherwise held on with relative ease.

And they should have made sure of the win in the closing stages, when they won another penalty.

But Diego Lopez saved for the second time, denying Bilic on this occasion, and Villarreal did manage to clear the rebound in this case.

Carmelo Gonzalez also missed a good chance late on for Sporting.