Staked to an early lead away to AS Monaco, FC Lorient's season seemed to be in trouble on Sunday as they were first pegged back and then went a goal down against an ambitious home team, no doubt motivated by the day's earlier result -- a draw between fellow European contenders LOSC Lille and Stade Brestois. However, after AS Monaco went down to ten men following a sending-off for Denis Zakaria, Les Merlus battled hard and eventually picked up an equalizer thanks to former Monégasque midfielder Tiemoué Bakayoko, whose powerful header earned the Bretons a 2-all draw, pulling them a point clear of the relegation playoff place.

Clearly, Lorient are still in the thick of things, but even with Clermont and Metz showing signs of life, the Bretons' away form has given them a new lease on life. Since the start of February, Lorient have picked up ten points from their four away matches in the league, getting wins away to Rennes, Strasbourg and Metz prior to last Sunday's draw in Monaco. January signing Mohamed Bamba (six goals) has been key in the team's renaissance, but so has Yvan Mvogo. After making six saves against AS Monaco, no goalkeeper in the league has more this season, as he and Bamba have given manager Régis Le Bris an advantage at both ends of the pitch - something may prove decisive given what's to come in the run-in.

Indeed, only FC Metz have a more difficult run-in than Lorient, who have to play the top two in Brest and Paris Saint-Germain as well as in-form Lens and fellow European contenders Marseille and OGC Nice. Should they be able to manage those matches, survival should be assured, but the next few months will no doubt be nervy for Les Merlus.