Valencia manager Gary Neville has hit out at his side for their "unacceptable" performance after they lost to relegation-threatened Levante on Sunday lunchtime.

Neville's former Manchester United teammate Giuseppe Rossi provided the game's only goal to hand the hosts local bragging rights at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia and lift them off the bottom of the La Liga table.

"I have been here three months and I have sat up here after defeats and defended performances," Neville told reporters in his post-match press conference. "I have sat up here and said we were unlucky. But I am not defending that.

"I have got to take responsibility for defeat, first and foremost, but that was an indefensible performance. Unacceptable. It was not good enough. I apologise to the fans of Valencia because the very basic premise of football match is that you run as hard, you fight as hard and you tackle as hard as the opposition.

"You might sometimes think that things go against you, but not today. Levante were the better team. I can't defend what I've just seen... I take full responsibility for that."

Neville's charges next welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Mestalla on Thursday hoping to overcome their rivals' 1-0 first-leg lead in their Europa League tie.