Toulouse take derby spoils

Toulouse claimed bragging rights with a 1-0 win away to derby rivals Bordeaux after each team had a man sent off.

Toulouse claimed bragging rights in the south east with a 1-0 win away to derby rivals Bordeaux after each team had a man sent off in the first half. Uros Spajic of Toulouse and Maxime Poundje of Bordeaux both got their marching orders, the latter for conceding a penalty which Wissam Ben Yedder saw saved by Cedric Carrasso. Toulouse's Denmark forward Martin Braithwaite scored the goal eight minutes after half-time and though both Andre Poko and debutant Guillaume Hoarau went close, the hosts could not respond. Toulouse were first to threaten, Ben Yedder shooting just wide, but the match then appeared to swing Bordeaux's way. Ludovic Obraniak's dangerous free-kick had to be deflected behind by defender Serge Aurier and Ludovic Sane shot straight at keeper Ali Ahamada before Toulouse were reduced to 10 men. Spajic launched into a bad tackle from behind on Nicolas Maurice-Belay and was shown a straight red card, with only 24 minutes on the clock. But Bordeaux's man advantage lasted only 10 minutes before Poundje hauled down Ben Yedder in the box and, adjudged to be the last man, was also dispatched down the tunnel. Ben Yedder stepped up seeking to add further punishment from 12 yards, but his shot was saved by the diving Carrasso. It was goalless at the interval and Ahamada kept it that way by blocking Sane's low shot early in the second half. But Toulouse broke the deadlock through Braithwaite in the 53rd minute when Ben Yedder and Jean Daniel Akpa-Akpro combined to set up the chance and the Dane fired past Carrasso from 12 yards. Braithwaite turned provider for Ben Yedder three minutes later but the former France Under-21 international fired just across the face of goal. Hoarau, who this week joined Les Girondins on a deal until the end of the season, was introduced in the 65th minute and wasted no time setting up a chance for Poko, who fired against the crossbar. And the new signing had a chance of his own to equalise in the 78th minute, but his towering header was brilliantly saved by a diving Ahamada to preserve Le Tefece's victory.