PSG take advantage of Montpellier slip

Paris St Germain took full advantage of a surprise defeat for Montpellier to pull level with the Ligue 1 leaders thanks to a narrow 1-0 victory at Sochaux. Kevin Gameiro scored the only goal for PSG after 20 minutes to put them level on 36 points with Montpellier.

Perhaps more importantly the goal could go some way towards quelling rumours the big-spending capital club are planning to dispense with coach Antoine Kombouare and replace him with reported targets Carlo Ancelotti or Rafael Benitez.

Montpellier saw their three-point advantage at the summit wiped out as they went down to a 1-0 reverse at Valenciennes. A goal just after half-time by Foued Kadir saw the struggling hosts take the points with just their fourth win of the season.

Fifth-placed Rennes spurned the chance to move within five points of the summit after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Brest. Nolan Roux opened the scoring for the visitors with a classic poacher's effort after 16 minutes, before Romain Danze bagged the equaliser 15 minutes later.

Umut Bulut scored a last-minute goal to give sixth-placed Toulouse all three points with a 2-1 win over Evian. Moussa Sissoko gave the home side the lead in the 25th minute but Evian looked on course for a point thanks to an equaliser from Daniel Wass early in the second half. But Bulut had other ideas and scored from close range in the dying seconds.

St Etienne moved within two points of the European positions courtesy of a deserved 2-0 win over 10-man Caen. Banel Nicolita and Bakary Sako scored the goals, while Caen were not helped by the harsh dismissal of Livio Nabab three minutes before half-time after an incident involving Jean-Pascal Mignot.

Bottom side Ajaccio were denied only their second win of the season as Nancy scored an injury-time equaliser to draw 2-2 at Stade Marcel Picot. Djamel Bakar put the home side in front after 10 minutes, but Ajaccio drew level thanks to an own goal from Andre Luiz (34) and took the lead on 72 minutes through Johan Cavalli. But fellow relegation strugglers Nancy snatched a point three minutes into added time through Daniel Niculae.

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Valenciennes stun leaders Montpellier

A goal just after half-time by Foued Kadir saw struggling Valenciennes spring a big surprise as they beat Ligue 1 leaders Montpellier. Kadir pounced on a poor clearance by Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren, with Nicolas Penneteau denying the league leaders in injury time as Valenciennes claimed just their fourth win of the season. The result, as well as Paris St Germain's victory earlier, sees the capital side draw level with Montpellier at the top of the table.

There were few clear-cut chances in the first half. John Utaka crossed to Geoffrey Dernis who was unmarked at the penalty spot and he put his header inches over the bar. Gael Danic then hit a free-kick directly at the goalkeeper before Valenciennes almost made the breakthrough in the 34th minute. Kadir sent a sweet cross to Remi Gomis, whose header beat Jourdren but came back off the post.

Just a minute after the break Valenciennes went ahead. David Ducourtioux drilled in a fierce shot from 30 yards which Jourdren failed to deal with properly and Kadir followed up and slotted the ball into the empty goal. Kadir then forced Jourdren into a save at full stretch before Vincent Aboubakar volleyed just over as Valenciennes continued to attack.

However, Penneteau was called on when Jamelle Saihi's long-range shot was deflected by Gael Danic with the keeper deflecting the ball for a corner, from which Dernis' powerful shot was well kept out by a reflex save. The keeper then ensured his side would claim all three points when he kept out Utaka's volley four minutes into injury time.

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