Brest remain on the top spot in Ligue1

Up against a Sochaux side keen to grab their first away win of the season, promoted table-toppers Brest showed enormous character to secure the 1-1 draw and maintain the league only remaining undefeated home record this season.

The visitors, who were coming off three losses and a draw in their last four matches, started brightly and duly took the lead in the 20th minute through Ideye Brown, the Nigerian international thumping home Nicolas Maurice-Belay’s neat pass after some fine work from Ligue 1 assists-table topper Marvin Martin.

Brest reacted well to the goal, holding their shape and pushing forward to find an equaliser, which came eight minutes shy of the break when Nolan Roux capped a flowing team move with a neat side-footer from Paul Baysse’s flick-on header (37’).

Character

Alex Dupont’s men, who have stunned French football by doggedly staying atop the table for the last three weeks, kept up the momentum after getting back to level terms and dominated the second half.

Unfortunately for the home fans, but happily enough for Sochaux, Brest couldn’t capitalise on the upper hand they had wrested from their visitors. Penalty claims for hand ball were waved away (46’) before Roux drew an amazing save from 19-year-old Sochaux reserve ’keeper Pierrick Cros.

The draw sees Sochaux climb one place to provisional 14th ahead of Sunday’s matches.

Source: Ligue1