Rennes bounced back from their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last time out by recording a 2-0 victory over Angers at the Stade Jean-Bouin this evening.
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The visitors took the lead in the fifth minute when Abdoulaye Doucoure rose highest in the box to head home Pedro Henrique's cross from the right.
Thomas Mangani threatened to bring Angers level when he fired an effort from the edge of the area, but he saw his strike well saved by Benoit Costil.
The home side went closer when a loose ball fell into the path of Gilles Sunu in the six-yard box and he powered an effort towards the net, but he blazed his strike over the crossbar.
Angers continued to put pressure on the Rennes goal, but Abdoul Camara was the next player to miss the target as he curled his left-footed strike wide of the post.
In the 61st minute, Gelson Fernandes seized on a poor clearance and found the bottom corner with a low drive to double his side's lead.
Angers were handed a lifeline in the 82nd minute when Goran Karanovic was brought down by Kamil Grosicki and a penalty was awarded. Mangani took the spot kick, but Costil guessed the right way and palmed his effort away from goal.
Philippe Montanier's men held out for the win to move up to sixth in the table, while Anger remain in fourth place after missing out on the chance to rise to second.
Simon Sinclair
