Saint-Etienne (AFP)

Once again harmless, Saint-Etienne was hooked by Angers (0-0, Friday at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in the opening match of the 14th day of Ligue 1, leaving the Greens on eleven games without a win.

For now, the Stéphanois will be content to have stopped a series of seven defeats in a row by sharing the points for the third time in a row after having held Lille in check at home (1-1) then Dijon, the red lantern, outside (0-0).

But with this timid recovery, ASSE remains 15th under the threat of Nîmes, 16th at two lengths, Reims (17th) and Strasbourg (18th) at three points.

For its part, the SCO, which has had its best start to the season since 2015, the year of its accession to Ligue 1, remains in the first third (7th) three points off the podium.

Even if they are not moving quickly, the Greens, who have managed to stabilize their starting XI with minimal changes from one game to another, are showing some progress in the defensive sector.

On the other hand, the offensive animation, too slow to go up the balloons especially against an opponent like Angers effective in the replacement, remains poor even if the Foréziens had possession of the ball (62.5%).

Apart from a shot from Romain Hamouma countered by Denis Bouanga who was offside (36), it was not until the second half to see Saint-Etienne be dangerous on an attempt by Bouanga and another by Yvan Neyou on which the goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni intervened (52, 58).

A recovery from the head of Harold Moukoudi also passed right by (59) while a good shot from Neyou was repelled by Bernardoni in added time (90 + 2).

Symptomatic of these offensive deficiencies, ASSE, with three shots on target, like Angers, has not scored on game action since the derby in Lyon lost 2-1, on November 8, and a goal by Anthony Lopes against his camp on an action of Bouanga.

And once again, the substitutes, Wahbi Khazri, Adil Aouchiche or Charles Abi, offensive players, did not tip the result for the Greens.

In the end, it was the Angevins who were the most dangerous with a shot from Jimmy Cabot deflected by Jessy Moulin (29) who also saved his team on a recovery from the head of Angelo Fulgini which he deflected on the post. (46).

The SCO, who could have better negotiated a few blocks, was also threatening on a free kick on target from Mathias Pereira Lage (35).

© 2020 AFP