Breathing space for Bastia

Bastia moved six points clear of the drop zone after a routine 4-2 win over Ligue 1 bottom side Nancy.

Bastia moved six points clear of the drop zone after a routine win over Ligue 1 bottom side Nancy on Saturday evening. Jerome Rothen, Anthony Modeste and Sambou Yatabare all scored within the opening half an hour before Benjamin Moukandjo got a goal back for the visitors. The teams traded goals as Modeste scored again for the hosts with Andre Luiz replying for Nancy, whose run of five consecutive 1-1 draws ended in dramatic fashion. The match was played on a neutral ground at the Stade J Laville in Gueugnon because of security fears stemming from several incidents at the Corsican club's home stadium earlier this season. That did little to put off Bastia, who took just eight minutes to get on the scoresheet as Whabi Khazri's corner was headed home by Rothen at the near post. Four minutes later and Rothen turned provider as his corner was headed home by an unmarked Modeste. It was three after 25 minutes and again it came from a set piece. Khazri's corner from the left was deflected towards Yatabare, who headed home at the far post. Nancy struck back five minutes after the restart through a 20-yard effort from Moukandjo, whose shot surprised Bastia stopper Landry Bonnefoi, who was poorly positioned. Bastia's two-goal lead was restored after 62 minutes after Sebastien Puygrenier's header from a corner could only find Modeste, who controlled the ball before firing past Damien Gregorini from just six yards out. There was still time for Nancy to score again as Luiz headed home a Romain Grange corner at the far post with 14 minutes left but it was too little too late.