Troyes unbeaten in five

A goalless draw with Bastia did little to boost Troyes' chances of surviving in Ligue 1 but the strugglers are now unbeaten in five games.

A solitary point from a goalless draw with Bastia did little to boost Troyes' chances of surviving in Ligue 1 but the strugglers are now unbeaten in five games. Bastia, who are just three points clear of the relegation zone, left the mainland frustrated they had not sealed victory in the 80th minute as Yohann Thuram kept out Jerome Rothen's searing volley. Stephane Darbion and Julien Faussurier enjoyed promising chances for the hosts but Estac are finding goals desperately hard to come by in their bid to reign in 17th-placed Reims, who are five points better off. Troyes started brightly and visiting goalkeeper Mickael Landreau was forced to look lively when Corentin Jean directed a low drive on target inside four minutes. Thuram's palms were warmed when Claudio Beauvue controlled Wahbi Khazri's cross to shoot but it was Landreau who would face a more thorough examination across 90 minutes. Fabien Camus brought the ball down the right wing to pick out Darbion for a powerful shot and this time the former Lille goalkeeper repelled the danger with his legs. A resilient Bastia almost made the breakthrough before the break but Thuram used a firm hand to punch away a left-footed volley from Anthony Modeste. Landreau carried his focus through the interval and stood tall to deny Camus when Troyes put a fluid team move together. It looked like the fizz had gone out of the game when Modeste drove a long-range shot wide of a post but the real action had been saved until the end. With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Jean-Christophe Bahebeck released Faussurier inside the box only for Landreau to miraculously deflect his fierce effort to safety. Troyes' heads soon dropped and so they had the alert Thuram to thank when he put his gloved hand between a perfect Rothen volley and his gaping goalmouth.