Bordeaux back on track

Bordeaux returned to winning ways in Ligue 1 with a comfortable 4-0 win over struggling Ajaccio.

Bordeaux returned to winning ways in Ligue 1 with a comfortable 4-0 win over struggling Ajaccio at a sparse-looking Stade Chaban-Delmas. A Jussie brace and goals from Gregory Sertic and Nicolas Maurice-Belay condemned Christian Bracconi's men to a ninth league defeat of the season and left the Corsicans just one place above bottom-club Sochaux thanks to a superior goal difference. Victory for Les Girondins was their first in five in all competitions and was welcomed after they crashed out of Europa League contention following a 1-0 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday. The hosts wasted no time in capitalising on Ajaccio's clear lack of confidence and found themselves in the lead with only nine minutes played following some early pressure. Sertic and Cheikh Diabate combined well before the latter's pass took a helpful deflection of defender Grenddy Perozo and fell at the feet of Jussie who finished with confidence. Despite the early setback though the visitors found their feet in the game and almost equalised when Claude Dielna swung a free-kick into the area but the unmarked Benjamin Andre saw his header saved by Cedric Carrasso on his own goal-line. With the game turning scrappy after some early entertainment, both sides huffed and puffed their way through the first half and, despite Sigamary Diarra and Landry N'Guemo both going close, Bordeaux's lead remained intact at the break. The hosts began the second half like the first though and it was not long before they doubled their lead to deny any Ajaccio hopes of a comeback. Maurice-Belay showed good pace to get down the right before cutting the ball back into the path of the unmarked Sertic who showed good composure to calmly slot the ball beyond Guillermo Ochoa. Not content with just a two-goal lead, Francis Gillot's struck for a third time on the counter after Ajaccio had shown brief intent. Maurice-Belay started and finished the move when he switched play to Ludovic Obraniak on the left and, despite his cross missing intended target Diabate, Bordeaux's number 19 was on hand at the back post to poke home. A blistering opening to the second half for the hosts had not stopped there though and, with 68 minutes on the clock, Jussie popped up with his second of the game to ensure all three points remained in Gironde. Following up on his goal-scoring antics, Sertic turned provider this time and his cross from the right picked out the unmarked Brazilian whose diving header nestled in the back of Ochoa's goal. Ajaccio thought they should have had a penalty late on when Obraniak appeared to bring down Andre in the area but nothing was given and moments later the Polish midfielder could have made it five for Bordeaux but he shot straight at Ochoa with only the Mexican to beat.