French Ligue 1: Bastia 1 St Etienne 0

St Etienne slipped up in the race for a Champions League spot in Ligue 1 after going down 1-0 to Bastia on Saturday.

Hosts Bastia built on last weekend's win over Evian, their first in seven, as Floyd Ayite poked home the only goal of the game seven minutes from time.

ASSE coach Christophe Galtier may have been hoping to "annoy a lot of people" with a win over Bastia but in the end his side remained locked on points with Marseille, who had beaten Metz on Friday.

Victory lifts Bastia six points and a surely decisive six places clear of the relegation zone.

The home side came out firing and Francois Modesto released Gael Danic inside the penalty area after just four minutes, though the ex-Lyon player's lob skimmed the post on its way out.

Visiting goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier was a busy man in the first half, starting when he was called upon to block a powerful header from Ayite, who had beaten defender Jonathan Brison to the cross from Julian Palmieri.

Another reflex save was needed from Ruffier on 27 minutes when Francois Kamano found space on the edge of the penalty area and fired in a curling effort.

Landry N'Guemo had the only major attempt for St Etienne in the first period as a 20-yard effort was only inches away, while a close-range shot from the midfielder after the break was pushed out for a corner by Bastia keeper Alphonse Areola.

Bastia, though, had the measure of their opponents as Brazilian striker Brandao struck the post with Ruffier beaten, and it was a sign of things to come.

In what was the last major piece of action, Ayite's goal came on 83 minutes as he managed to find space in a crowded box and finish with a low drive after Gael Danic had done well to cross for him.