Bangoura strike the difference

Ismael Bangoura's first goal of the season brought an end to a run of back-to back defeats for Nantes with a win against Lorient.

Ismael Bangoura's first goal of the season brought an end to a run of back-to back defeats for Nantes with a 1-0 win against in-form Lorient at the Stade La Beuajoire. The Guinean forward, yet to make a start for the hosts, came off the bench to score a dramatic late winner which moved Les Canaris back up to fifth in Ligue 1. A first defeat in eight for the visitors meant that Christian Gourcuff's men missed out on the opportunity to go seventh for what would have been their highest league position of the season so far. The hosts began the brighter, in particular Johan Audel, and it was his trickery followed by a cross that almost created the first goal early on but Serge Gakpe's header only found the crossbar. Lorient hit back straight away but Jeremie Aliadiere was foiled by Remy Riou in the Nantes goal after the former Arsenal man profited from a poor Birama Toure backpass. In what was proving to be an open game Aliadiere went close again but this time he fired wide of the target after the lively Gakpe had picked him out. Despite both sides creating chances the teams went into the break with nothing to show for their efforts. However, it was Lorient who came out from the interval the better side and Gilles Sunu stung the palms of Riou with a good effort before Aliadiere's follow-up was deflected wide. Riou was on hand again to keep his team level when he saved a one-on-one with Vincent Aboubakar before Nantes boss Michel Der Zakarian made changes. That move turned the game in the favour of the hosts as Gakpe forced Florent Chaigneau to push the ball over his own bar with an effort from distance. With time running out it was Les Canaris who finally broke the deadlock with just a minute to play. Filip Djordjevic rose highest to knock the ball into the path of Bangoura and the Guinean forward made no mistake from 12 yards with a blistering shot across the body of Chaigneau. Lorient almost hit back instantly when Yann Jouffre found the crossbar direct from a free-kick but the hosts held on.