After being thumped 4-1 by Celta Vigo last time out, relegation-threatened Valencia were under pressure to produce a response against Elche, despite being without their top scorer, Hugo Duro, due to suspension. As the home side, the onus was on Los Che to play on the front foot in front of an expectant Mestalla.
However, the impact of Duro’s absence was clear to see in the first period, where the hosts failed to capitalise on promising attacking situations.
Dimitri Foulquier got his header all wrong from Pepelu’s inswinging free-kick, before Lucas Beltran fired straight at Matías Dituro from just outside the box. Another good chance came and went when Andre Almeida blazed a loose ball over the bar in what proved to be the final piece of goalmouth action before the half-time whistle, which was met with audible frustration from the Valencia support.
The home faithful were given a boost just after the hour mark when the popular Umar Sadiq was sent on for his second debut following his recent switch from Real Sociedad.
However, as it proved, it was an Elche substitute, Diangana, who found the all-important breakthrough as the game entered the 75th minute.
The 27-year-old punished the Valencia backline for giving him the time and space to take aim from just outside the area, rifling an unstoppable left-foot shot out of Stole Dimitrievski’s reach to net his first goal for the club.
After scoring against his former boss, the ex-West Bromwich Albion attacker was soon left red-faced when his handball offered Pepelu the chance to drill a high-pressure penalty into the bottom corner to set up an exciting finale.
Valencia flooded forward in search of a late and much-needed winner, but time ultimately ran out as they settled for a point that leaves them without a win in six league games and a point from safety.
As for ninth-placed Elche, the wait for their first LaLiga away win of the season goes on.