Bordeaux back on winning trail

Having seen their chances of retaining the French league title implode owing to a recent poor run of form Bordeaux belatedly returned to winning ways on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Toulouse.

One point in five games had seen Laurent Blanc’s side slide out of contention as Marseille set the pace to open up a five-point lead after their goalless draw with second-placed Auxerre.

The win at least brought the southwesterners into provisional fourth place ahead of Lyon’s match at Montpellier later Sunday.

Michael Ciani’s 17th-minute decider from a cross by Brazilian star Wendel was enough to secure full points and Blanc admitted the relief was tangible.

“A win at last – it was a while since we had had one. Last year we had won certain matches in our heads before playing them,” Blanc noted in highlighting the difference a season makes.

“I am happy to have a group which was able to react” to their previous poor form, he added.

Nonetheless, Bordeaux could be back in sixth spot if Montpellier draw with Lyon to leave the former a point ahead of them and Lyon ahead of them on goal difference.

Lille are third, with 64 points to Bordeaux’s 60, after beating Nancy 3-1.

At the wrong end of the table, St Etienne did themselves no favours in going down 4-1 at home to Lens – although Les Verts are still seven points clear of third-bottom Le Mans, who pinched a point at Monaco in midweek.

Le Mans still are set to follow tailenders Grenoble and Boulogne into the second division next season.

Sochaux, already safe, bolstered their recent move away from danger with a 2-1 win at Rennes.

Caen and Brest have already won promotion while Arles-Avignon, who were in division three last season, could yet bag the final place among the elite.