St Etienne remain perfect

St Etienne are one of three Ligue 1 sides with a 100 per cent record after a 1-0 victory over Guingamp.

St Etienne are one of three Ligue 1 sides with a 100 per cent record after a 1-0 victory over Guingamp on Saturday evening. Les Verts sit behind Lyon and Marseille on goal difference, with Fabien Lemoine's second-half goal enough for a narrow win. Newly-promoted Guingamp got off to a terrible start last weekend when they conceded three goals against Marseille inside 16 minutes. St Etienne had the better of the first half today but could not make the early breakthrough they were looking for. In the 13th minute Francois Clerc broke down the right and crossed for Brandao on the penalty spot but his header flew just over the bar. Twenty minutes later the hosts went close again as Clerc got on the end of Romain Hamouma's free-kick but volleyed past the post. St Etienne could not find the target and it was the same story with their final chance of the half as Renaud Cohade struck a volley over the top. It seemed just a matter of time, though, and the goal came seven minutes after half-time. Lemoine and Brandao exchanged passes outside the penalty area and the striker caught the ball perfectly with a blistering volley into the top corner. Guingamp had not threatened at all but they went in search of an equaliser and Claudio Beauvue's 25-yard free-kick drew a fine save from Stephane Ruffier on the hour mark. It was the same pair involved two minutes later, this time an overhead kick from Beauvue kept out by Ruffier at full stretch. Guingamp's final chance came right at the end, Christophe Kerbrat crossing for Martins Pereira to volley just over the bar as their search for a first point continued.