Montpellier coach Rene Girard was happy his team took a point at home against Toulouse in their Ligue 1 season opener.
Souleymane Camara put the champions ahead on 34 minutes, but his opener was cancelled out by Wissam Ben Yedder in the second half in the 1-1 draw on Friday.
Three players – Montpellier’s Jamel Saihi and Toulouse pair Adrien Regattin and Serge Aurier – were sent off in an ill-tempered clash.
Girard, who was unhappy with three red cards being shown, said he was content with his team’s hard-earned point.
“I think that three red cards for the first game of the season is definitively too heavy,” Girard said.
“We were leading 1-0 and then we lost a player and tried to preserve the scoreline. We made a few mistakes defensively and we conceded a goal. Then Toulouse got two red cards and lost two players.
“That’s only a first game. It has never been easy against Toulouse over the last four years. It was a tight and complicated game.
“I am quite satisfied with my players’ state of mind. We have seen many technical faults from both sides and it just means that neither of the teams have reached their peak yet or played at 100 percent.
“That’s why we saw so many faults and a game with not so much fluidity. What’s more the weather was really hot as well. I would say that it was a good point to take.”
Girard also defended new signing Emanuel Herrera, who was quiet on debut.
The Argentine joined from Chilean side Union Espanola in July and Girard said he needed to be given time.
“Emmanuel needs some time to make his mark. His team-mates must find him on the pitch,” Girard said.
“It was a shy first official appearance but we knew that it wouldn’t be easy.
“I will say it again but when Olivier Giroud arrived you asked me exactly the same thing. OK, Herrera didn’t score 21 goals yet, but let’s be patient.”
