Sunday 22 March 2015 15:49, UK
Max Gradel starred with a well-taken double as St Etienne stayed on the coattails of Ligue 1's top three with a 2-0 win over 10-man Lille.
The former Leeds forward took his tally for the season to 10 goals with a smart finish just after the hour-mark and then made sure of the win 11 minutes later with a deflected effort.
Marco Lopes was sent off for Lille in the 52nd minute and that was the catalyst for Romain Revelli's side to turn the screw and move within two points of third-placed Marseille.
The defeat ends a run of three straight victories to dent their unlikely European hopes after a terrible start to the season from Rene Girard's charges.
Lille had an early half chance when Lopes found space outside the area but his tame effort was gathered comfortably by Stephane Ruffier before Les Verts' Gradel had a half-hearted penalty claim waved away after going down under a Sebastien Corchia challenge.
Gradel was a constant problem for the Lille defence and, after rounding Vincent Enyeama, the Ivorian saw his shot seemingly blocked by the hand of Corchia but once again referee Said Ennjimi denied the hosts a chance of an opener.
St Etienne continued to dominate and went closest to scoring as half-time approached but Enyeama made a decent save from Mevlut Erding's glancing header and it remained goalless at the interval.
Hoping to close the gap on league leaders Paris St Germain, the hosts continued to dominate after the break and were given further incentive when Lopes was shown a straight red card for a nasty-looking challenge on Frank Tabanou after 52 minutes.
Spurred on by having a man advantage, St Etienne did not have to wait much longer to make the breakthrough.
Francois Clerc found space on the right and his delivery found Gradel who expertly turned Corchia before rifling the ball into the top of the net to leave Enyeama with little chance.
And, just 11 minutes later, Gradel added his and St Etienne's second after Enyeama gave away an indirect free-kick inside the area from Marco Basa's back pass.
Les Verts' number seven took charge and, with the aid of a wicked Basa deflection, the ball nestled in the goal, giving the hosts some breathing space.
Lille did offer a response and Kevin Koubemba drew a smart save from Ruffier after seeing off Loic Perrin and Kevin Theophile-Catherine but it was a case of too little too later as St Etienne moved within seven points of PSG.
