Dimitri Payet earned St Etienne a point in a 1-1 draw with Valenciennes in Ligue 1.

St Etienne and Valenciennes share the spoils

Two goals in the space of nine second-half minutes ensured St Etienne and Valenciennes played out a draw that does little to help either. Gregory Pujol put the visitors ahead just after half-time, but Dimitri Payet levelled for St Etienne before the hour. The draw leaves St Etienne 10 points from a top-four place and a European berth, while Valenciennes are now two points above the drop zone. Four minutes after half-time, Valenciennes were ahead when Pujol was left free on the edge of the penalty area before turning and slamming into the back of the net. The lead only lasted nine minutes, however, as Payet brought down Laurent Batlles' long pass and left Nicolas Penneteau with no chance with a well-placed shot. The drama died after that, with Janot having the last word, doing well to keep out a cross-shot from Mathieu Dossevi.