Troyes boost survival hopes

Troyes boosted their hopes of Ligue 1 survival with a 2-1 home victory over Brest on Saturday evening.

Troyes boosted their hopes of Ligue 1 survival with a narrow 2-1 home victory over Brest on Saturday evening. Goals either side of half-time from Fabien Camus and Stephane Darbion put the second-bottom hosts in control at the Stade de l'Aube. Eden Ben Basat's strike just after the hour mark gave the visitors hope, but Troyes held on for only their third league win of the campaign. Despite their lowly position, the hosts started positively and almost went ahead in the 17th minute when Darbion met Corentin Jean's cross with a right-footed volley flew inches wide. Brest mustered their first chance two minutes later through Florian Raspetino, whose fierce 30-yard blast was punched clear by Troyes goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien. But Troyes continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges, teenager Jean seeing his snap-shot blocked by Brest goalkeeper Alexis Thebaux after being put through by Eloge Enza Yamissi. The breakthrough arrived a minute before the interval when Camus despatched a vicious left-footed free-kick into the top corner. Nine minutes after the restart the hosts doubled their lead. Camus was the provider this time as he freed Darbion, who unleashed a 20-yard bullet which left Thebaux motionless. Ben Basat swiftly halved the deficit when he latched on to Bruno Grougi's pass and sent a low shot past Thuram-Ulien. Brest threw everything at the home team in the closing stages but could not find an equaliser, Thuram-Ulien thwarting substitutes Charlison Benschop and Abel Khaled as Troyes held on for a valuable three points. Jean-Marc Furlan's side could even have added a third goal in stoppage time but, with Thebaux beaten, substitute Marcos saw his volley from Darbion's cross crash against the post.