AS Saint-Etienne 1-1 Stade de Reims

THE MATCH

It did look as if Les Verts would claim a welcome victory when Denis Bouanga headed them in front in the 73rd minute at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Franck Honorat delivered a cross from wide on the right flank and Gabon international Bouanga rose high above Thomas Foket to head in his ninth Ligue 1 Conforama goal of the campaign.

After nine defeats in 11 league games since the start of December had seen Saint-Etienne plummet down to the edge of the relegation battle, they were seconds away from taking all three points here. However, with this match in the second minute of added time, Yann M’Vila knocked over Boulaye Dia in the box, and a penalty was given. Dia then dusted himself down to take the penalty, sending Jessy Moulin in the home goal the wrong way from 12 yards (90+4’).

It was a bitter end to the game for the home team and for Moulin, who was handed a rare start in goal after Puel’s controversial decision to drop long-standing first-choice custodian Stéphane Ruffier, a move that has only ended to the atmosphere of crisis around the club in recent days.

“We were very close to the three points and the victory,” admitted Puel. “It was a difficult game after a turbulent week. It was very disappointing, but we need to look forward. We will need to keep battling until the end.”

THE PLAYER: Jessy Moulin

Saint-Etienne’s perennial back-up goalkeeper was thrown in here after Puel decided to drop Ruffier. It was just a third league start of the season for the 34-year-old, and just his 17th in the top flight in a decade. There were to be no late heroics as Dia beat him from the penalty spot.

THE STAT: 2

Saint-Etienne have won just two of their 12 league games played since the beginning of December and are only two points clear of the relegation zone. They have a huge 10 days coming up, with a trip to rivals Olympique Lyonnais - Puel’s old club - in the derby next weekend before the Coupe de France semi-final at home to Stade Rennais FC.