Troyes move off the bottom

Troyes moved off bottom spot by the slightest of margins with a goalless draw against Sochaux.

Troyes moved off bottom spot by the slightest of margins with a goalless draw against a Sochaux side who also remain in deep trouble in the Ligue 1 survival battle. A point drew the home side level with Nancy on 18 points, with a slightly superior goals-scored record giving Troyes the edge. Sochaux remain one point and one place above the drop zone after an uninspiring encounter that deserved no victor. Sebastien Corchia had what was probably Sochaux's best chance in the 17th minute when he struck a free-kick from 25 yards out and skimmed the outside of the post. The visitors then drew a save from Yohann Thuram-Ulien when Ryad Boudebouz's smart run and pass found Sebastien Roudet, who flashed a volley at the Troyes keeper. Troyes tested Simon Pouplin in the away goal after 24 minutes, Jean-Christophe Bahebeck with a near-post effort that was their only real shot of the half. Joseph Lopy hit a powerful long-range effort six minutes before half-time but Thuram-Ulien stood firm. Thuram-Ulien continued the stalemate when he smothered Roudet's volley after the restart and Troyes briefly flicked into life at the other end. Benjamin Nivet linked well with Stephane Darbion, the latter seeing his shot saved by Pouplin. Nivet almost decorated the game with a goal it scarcely deserved when he attempted an audacious lob, but Pouplin backtracked quickly enough to keep the 58th-minute effort out. The final chance of the evening fell to Vincent Nogueira eight minutes from the end but Sochaux were unable to steal the points when Thuram-Ulien ensured his clean sheet at the second attempt.