Saint-Etienne welcomed Toulouse on Friday night knowing that a win would move them to the top of Ligue 1.
Les Verts sat second in the table behind leaders AS Monaco, who face champions Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, while Le Tefece occupied a place in the relegation zone after their worst start to a season in a decade.
However, they managed to get their first win of the campaign as they came from behind to win at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live Ligue 1 coverage as Saint-Etienne host Toulouse at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
This should be a cracking game between two sides who meet in very different form. Saint-Etienne will go top with a win this evening, with their two nearest rivals squaring off on Sunday when AS Monaco travel to Paris Saint-Germain.
Toulouse, meanwhile, are in a rather different situation. Le Tefece have made their worst start to a season in over 10 years, and sit inside the bottom three. They are yet to win this campaign, having accumulated three draws from their opening five matches, but will be desperate to get their first victory this evening.
Before we get stuck into any more facts and figures. Let's bring you the team news for tonight's encounter.
SAINT-ETIENNE XI: Ruffier, Perrin, Clerc, Sall, Ghoulam, Clement, Tabanou, Lemoine, Hamouma, Corgnet, Erding
Christophe Galtier names the same side who beat Valenciennes last weekend. Franck Tabanou lines up against his former club for the very first time, with fellow new boy Benjamin Corgnet also in the starting XI.
SAINT-ETIENNE BENCH: Sissoko, Zouma, Cohade, Mignot, Mollo, Diomande, Moulin
Galtier has a strong bench at his disposal, and will be confident knowing that he can call on the likes of Zouma, Cohade and Moulin.
Time for the away outfit.
TOULOUSE XI: Ahamada, Ninkov, Abdennour, Aurier, Spajic, Sylla, Didot, Chantome, Trejo, Braithwaite, Ben Yedder
Just like his counterpart, Alain Casanova has kept faith with his starting XI coming off the back of their draw with Marseille last time out.
TOULOUSE BENCH: Zebina, Sirieix, Blondel, Regattin, Yago, Moubandje, Fennouche
The two sides are out on the field, and we're moments away from the start of this match.
The noise around Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is electric. The fans seem to know how important this game is. Saint-Etienne go top with a win.
KICK OFF! Saint-Etienne, playing from left to right, get the match underway.
Saint-Etienne are wearing their home strip of green shirts, white shorts and green socks, while Toulouse sport an all pink away kit.
It's been a good start to this game. Nothing in the way of clear chances yet, but the tempo is high with both teams playing quick, fluid football. The crowd are in fine voice as well.
Still no opportunities at goal yet, but Saint-Etienne are starting to take control.
SAINT-ETIENNE CHANGE The hosts have been forced into an early alteration as Perrin is unable to shake off a knock. Young, but highly-rated, defender Kurt Zouma is on.
Clerc has taken the armband from the departing skipper.
Nearly a chance for Saint-Etienne as Corgnet slides in Tabanou on the left of the box, he runs towards the byline before pulling his cross back towards Erding, but Ahamada is quickly off his line to put a stop to the danger, before Spajic clears.
Lemoine brings the ball to the edge of the area on the right and has a crack at goal, his effort flicks off the shin of Abdennour and goes out for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Just seen Perrin sat on the bench with an ice pack strapped to his calf. Hopefully it is nothing too serious.
GOAL! Saint-Etienne 1-0 Toulouse (Romain Hamouma)
Toulouse start to the season continues to get worse as they gift Les Verts the opener. Lemoine races down the right touchline before knocking a cross into the box. Ahamada comes out and gets to it first comfortably, but he drops the ball when on the floor straight at the feet of Hamouma, who simply can't miss from about eight yards out.
YELLOW CARD Erding is the first man into the book after a nasty collision, which he is sent off the field to receive treatment for.
Corgnet is brought down right on the edge of the box. The referee blows for a free kick, and Saint-Etienne players are begging for Abdennour to be sent off.
YELLOW CARD The referee deems that Abdennour was not the last man, but the hosts have a very well-placed free kick.
CLOSE! Twice the hosts go close to doubling their lead. First Tabanou's curling free kick from the right of the box is blocked by Ahamada on the line. Then the ball finds its way back to Tabanou, whose vicious striker flies just over.
CLOSE! Saint-Etienne again go close and it is nearly a superb strike from Sall. Toulouse fail to clear the danger as the cross comes in from the left. It bounces to the far side of the box, where Sall pulls off an overhead kick which flies across the face of goal and just wide of the far post. A good effort from the centre-back.
Toulouse are creeping back into this match. They've been enjoying a bit more possession, and have seen one or two crosses cleared.
CLOSE! The hosts are back in control and come close to doubling their lead once again. Erding forces a stop from Ahamada from the right, which results in the ball flying off the keeper's legs into the path of Tabanou on the left of the box. He slams a low shot towards the far post, but it drifts just wide of the target.
Toulouse are now pressing but Saint-Etienne are quick on the break. I can sense a second goal before half time, but I'm not sure who for.
SAVE! It was very nearly for Toulouse! Abdennour finds himself 30 yards out on the left and hammers a left-footed shot towards goal. The ball is flying into the top right corner of the net, but Ruffier pulls off a top-draw save to keep the home side ahead.
Clement and Ninkov slide into each other on the deck and both players look in pain. However, the pair get back to their feet and look ok to continue.
Closing in on half time, and it looks as if Saint-Etienne will head into the break in front.
We will have just one extra minute at the end of this first half.
Hamouma darts down the right and floats a dangerous cross into the box, but Spajic can clear from in front of Ahamada.
HALF TIME: Saint-Etienne 1-0 Toulouse
Toulouse hang on but they trail at half time. Hamouma's goal, which took a massive assist from Ahamada, is the difference.
Saint-Etienne have been the better side and could be further ahead. However, Toulouse have shown a few signs to suggest that Les Verts cannot take them for granted.
Let's bring you some half-time stats.
Match statistics:
Saint-Etienne:
Shots 9
On target 3
Possession 46%
Corners 2
Fouls 9
Toulouse:
Shots 3
On target 2
Possession 54%
Corners 2
Fouls 7
The two sides are back out and we're ready for the second half.
KICK OFF! Toulouse, playing from left to right, get the match back underway.
CHANCE! First opportunity of the half falls to the hosts, as Corgnet cross from the left of the box towards Erding. The Turk manages to run to the near post and get away from his marker, but get only prod his effort into the side-netting.
Tabanou has a chance after an awful header from Aurier. The winger should run at goal, but instead goes for a thunderous half-volley from 25 yards out which flies into orbit.
TOULOUSE CHANGE Ninkov makes way for Yago.
Toulouse nearly find a leveller, but Zouma manages to clear just before Ben Yedder can connect with the ball.
CHANCE! Toulouse could and maybe should be level. The ball pops to the left of a crowded penalty area where Chantome is waiting for it. He rifles a shot towards goal but only into the side-netting. He looks incredibly frustrated with himself.
Toulouse are looking a lot better and proving why they don't deserve to be in the bottom three. However, at the moment, they are staying there.
The away side are nearly level, as a Sylla cross from the left looks to be drifting into the back of the net, but Ruffier can stick out a hand to claw it over his own bar.
GOAL! Saint-Etienne 1-1 Toulouse (Martin Braithwaite)
Toulouse have their equaliser, and Ruffier is furious with his defence. Didot hits a shot from the edge of the box which glides through a number of bodies. Ruffier can make the stop, but only parry it into the path of Braithwaite. The striker was unmarked and taps the ball into the back of the net to draw the away side level.
SAINT-ETIENNE CHANGE Clement is taken off by Galtier, who throws Cohade into the action.
YELLOW CARD Didot goes into the book for Toulouse after a rash challenge on Cohade.
Toulouse have improved as this match has gone on, and deserve to be level. Saint-Etienne has responded well though since the set back. We're in for a thrilling final 19 minutes or so.
GOAL! Saint-Etienne 1-2 Toulouse (Issiaga Sylla)
Toulouse have turned it around! Aurier goes down the right and makes his way to the byline before smashing a low pass across the face of goal. It avoids Erding but Sylla is on hand at the far post to tap it in. Unbelievable.
SAINT-ETIENNE CHANGE Mollo comes on in place of Franck Tabanou.
TOULOUSE CHANGE Fenouche comes on in place of Ben Yedder.
CHANCE! What an opportunity for the hosts to get an equaliser. Corgnet goes down the left and cuts the ball back to Erding on the penalty spot. The striker opts to hit it first time, but scuffs his shot and can only watch it drag wide of the far post for a goal kick.
Hamouma races down the right touchline before pinging a low cross into the box, but none of his teammates can get a touch.
Erding tries to make amends for his earlier gaffe by taking on an ambitious shot from an acute angle when he should have passed instead. Not a good spell for him.
Zebina is about to come on for Toulouse.
TOULOUSE CHANGE Braithwaite is the man being taken off, and Zebina is brought on.
We'll have two minutes added time.
FULL TIME: Saint-Etienne 1-2 Toulouse
That's it, they've done it. Toulouse get their first win of the season after turning this match on its head. They were poor in the first half, and Saint-Etienne could have been more than 1-0 up at the break.
However, Toulouse rallied after half time and continued to improve as the match went on. Braithwaite's equaliser cancelled out Hamouma's opener, before Sylla found the winner with 15 minutes to play.
Let's bring you the full-time stats.
Match statistics:
Saint-Etienne:
Shots 17
On target 4
Possession 44%
Corners 4
Fouls 19
Toulouse:
Shots 10
On target 5
Possession 56%
Corners 4
Fouls 17
Well that's it from me, make sure you come back to Sports Mole tomorrow where we will have coverage of all the Ligue 1 action. Until then, good night.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
