Ligue 1 match report: Montpellier take only a point from lowly Lorient

Montpellier missed the chance to put Monaco under pressure in the race for Europe as they were held to a goalless draw at lowly Lorient.

Ten Ligue 1 places separated these two sides going into the clash, but it mattered little as Lorient missed several chances to nick all three points against their sixth-placed opponents.

Montpellier boss Rolland Courbis likened himself to Jose Mourinho in the build-up to this clash, but he may regret such comparisons after his side could only draw a blank at the Stade du Moustoir.

Had La Paillade won the game they would have closed the gap behind fifth-placed Monaco, who face Lyon on Sunday, to a single point.

The draw moves Lorient three points clear of the drop zone, but they slip to 16th and will need to find some form quickly after winning only one of their last six matches.

Despite their struggles it was the hosts who made most of the early running as Gianni Bruno twice went close before the half-hour mark.

The 23-year-old Belgian saw a curled effort stray inches wide in just the second minute and then was thwarted by Montpellier keeper Geoffrey Jourdren who got down well to block his close-range drive.

Montpellier had never looked like scoring in the first half but they finally asked questions of Lorient five minutes after the interval, but Les Merlus keeper Benjamin Lecomte was equal to Morgan Sanson's effort.

The hosts came back strong with Lamine Gassama a constant threat on the right, but his marauding break into the box in the 52nd minute was halted by Jourdren.

More good work from Gassama created the game's best chance on the hour mark as Walid Mesloub's shot was cleared off the line by Montpellier's Joris Marveaux.

Gassama's cross was sent back across goal by Raphael Guerreiro to Mesloub, but his goal-bound effort was blocked by the veteran midfielder.

Both sides huffed and puffed to avoid a stalemate, but in the end it was inevitable and it is a result that does no favours for either of them.