Auxerre escape drop zone as Montpellier un-Ravel
Lorient’s European ambitions had taken a hit recently with only one win in their last four matches, and visiting Auxerre were aiming to capitalise on that and they started the better of the two sides. AJA could take heart from the fact that they had only lost two head-to-head’s in their last 17 against Lorient, and striker Siriki Dembélé was trying to remind them of that fact. The Bournemouth loanee, who earlier had a strong penalty appeal turned down, found himself in the box, but could only hit the post as the visitors sensed an early goal. For the majority of the first half, Lorient couldn’t get a grip on the game and allowed the visitors plenty of time and space.
Close to half-time, the home side finally had a shot on target when a long ball over the Auxerre defence saw Roman Faivre free, but his shot was saved at the near-post by AJA goalkeeper Ionuț Radu. Faivre received another chance seconds before the interval, but wastefully gave Radu an easy save to ensure a level playing field at the break.
Auxerre again started brightly in the second half and fashioned the first opportunity when Han-Noah Massengo shot wide from an acute angle. Pressure would eventually tell before the hour mark though, as the visitors deservedly took the lead from a free-kick by Rayan Raveloson which curled past Lorient goalkeeper Vito Mannone. Falling behind appeared to wake up the home side, but they struggled to find a way through the Auxerre defence, as Faivre again saw a shot easily saved by Radu.
In the end, despite Lorient hitting the post in the closing stages, Auxerre managed to see through any further worries to grab the three points and ended the joint-worst record for an away side this season in Ligue 1, as Christophe Pélissier’s side won for the first time on the road since August.