Toulouse add to Rennes woes

Rennes were plunged deeper into the relegation fight in Ligue 1 following a 3-2 defeat at home to Toulouse.

Rennes were plunged deeper into the relegation fight in Ligue 1 following a 3-2 defeat at home to Toulouse. Toulouse were in control of the contest once Ola Toivonen's own goal was followed by Clement Chantome's deflected free-kick just before half-time. When Rennes did hit back, through Nelson Oliviera, Toulouse took just five minutes to restore their two-goal cushion as Serge Aurier finished a flowing move. Abdoulaye Doucoure tapped in a late consolation for Rennes, who have lost three on the spin and are now dangerously just three points above the drop zone. Rennes made a sloppy start and while they were reprieved when Jean Makoun carelessly lost the ball, with Chantome's subsequent drilled shot kept out by Benoit Costil, Toivonen put through his own goal on 14 minutes. Toivonen deflected Etienne Didot's corner past Costil. Rennes almost snuck an equaliser on 34 minutes when Jonathan Pitroipa raced forward and fed Alessandrini, whose shot spooned just over. Toulouse were 2-0 up by the break, though. Costil had done well to keep out a Wissam Ben Yedder strike but moments later he could do nothing when Chantome's 25-yard free-kick took a nick off Makoun's thigh to wrong-foot the goalkeeper. Toulouse went in search of a third to kill the game after the break. Neat combination work between Didot and Ben Yedder forced Costil into a double-fisted clearance before Braithwaite shot straight at the goalkeeper. Rennes were gifted a route back into the game on 68 minutes when away goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher failed to properly clear an Alessandrini cross to allow Oliviera a simple finish. Toulouse were not threatened for long those as they soon pieced together a fine move. Ben Yedder surged into the area from the left and fed Chantome who in turn flicked the ball on for Aurier to supply the finishing touch with a low drive. Rennes were beaten and while Doucoure tapped in late, after Boucher blocked Alessandrini's overhead kick, the hosts face a relegation scrap.