Brice Samba and Marc-Aurèle Caillard kept a clean sheet apiece as relegation rivals SM Caen and EA Guingamp cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw at the Stade de Roudourou.
EA Guingamp 0-0 SM Caen 
THE MATCH
Guingamp welcomed Caen to Brittany rooted to the foot of the table, with their visitors five points away in the relegation play-off place. Jocelyn Gourvennec's men started the brighter of the two sides, with Pedro Rebocho's free-kick forcing Samba to save in instalments (5') before Nolan Roux was called back for a handball when he would have been clean through on goal (26'). Guingamp's best chance of the half came just past the half-hour when Ludovic Blas got some venom on a shot, but Samba was again equal to it (32'). At the other end, Baïssama Sankoh did well to pick out Malik Tchokounté in the box, but Caillard was right out at the big striker's feet to quell the danger (39').
Deadlock intact
Guingamp remained on the front foot into the second half, and Étienne Didot had a chance when Roux teed him up from Mehdi Merghem's cross, but what might have been his first goal since December was scooped over the bar (49'). Marcus Thuram then blazed an effort wide of the Caen goal (55') before the hosts were nearly caught on the counter-attack. Tchokounté might have been the beneficiary, but his curling effort failed to tip in time (67'). Marcos Coco - a second-half substitute for Blas - then headed Jordan Ikoko's cross over the bar (74'), Tchokounté should have snatched all three points near the end but he was inches away from turning Casimir Ninga's cross home (79') and it ended 0-0.
THE PLAYER: Brice Samba
Guingamp were dominant for much of Saturday's encounter and that Caen were able to come away with a point was thanks in no small part to Samba. The Congolese shot-stopper only displaced veteran Rémy Vercoutre as the club's No.1 at the start of the season, but he looks like he has been playing top-flight football for years.
THE STAT: 8
Guingamp remain five points behind Caen, and are eight points away from outright safety. With only nine pointy left to play for, the Breton club's six-year stay in the French top flight is drawing to a close, and soon, despite their admirable fighting spirit.
