Bastia too strong for Montpellier

Bastia have registered a 3-1 victory over Montpellier at home in Ligue 1.

The hosts broke the deadlock after just 16 minutes through Claudio Beauvue, who fired home from outside the box.

Montpellier restored parity in the 31st minute when John Utaka latched on to Marco Estrada's through-ball before slotting home from the centre of the Bastia penalty box.

However, two minutes later Bastia were back in front as Anthony Modeste headed home Florian Thauvin's cross from close range.

Utaka could have made it 2-2 heading into the half-time interval when he headed Souleymane Camara's cross towards goal, but Mickael Landreau made the save between the home side's posts.

Camara had two chances in as many minutes at the start of the second half but on both occasions he failed to hit the target, before Utaka's header from Daniel Congre's cross was kept out by Landreau.

Modeste made sure of the points for Bastia three minutes from time when he headed home Jerome Rothen's corner.