Montpellier edge past Lorient

Lamine Kone's unfortunate own goal helped Montpellier edge a 1-0 win over Lorient.

Rolland Courbis' men were bidding to overcome a defeat to Nantes before the international break and they did exactly that thanks to Kone putting into his own net late in the first half.

Lorient had entered the clash with a spring in their step after thumping Brittany derby rivals Guingamp 4-0 last time out but they left the south coast empty handed after a moment of misfortune on the stroke of half-time.

There had been little to choose from between the teams in an encounter of relatively few clear-cut chances.

Siaka Tiene's free-kick narrowly missed the target, hitting the side netting, which was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the first quarter.

Raphael Guerreiro's shot from a narrow angle forced Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren to dive and make a decent save, while at the other end Anthony Mounier volleyed over the bar from Morgan Sanson's free-kick.

With the game drifting towards the interval, Montpellier took the lead - although they were grateful for a slice of luck as Kevin Berigaud's cross was volleyed into his own net by Lorient centre-back Kone.

The home side looked to build on their advantage on the resumption but were thwarted by a stunning reflex save from Benjamin Lecomte, who denied Vitorino Hilton's strong header.

Jourdren was kept on his toes as he had to deny Jordan Ayew's strike from just outside the area, but Montpellier finished strongly.

Paul Lasne's cross from the right found Souleymane Camara at the back post but the Senegal international's header missed the target while Tiene contrived to miss the target from six yards following a fluid counter-attack.

The sloppy misses proved irrelevant, however, as Montpellier held on to claim their third Ligue 1 victory of the season.