Preview: Brest vs. Saint-Etienne - prediction, team news, lineups

Brest play host to Saint-Etienne on Saturday afternoon looking to build a wider margin between themselves and the Ligue 1 relegation zone.

As for the visitors, they make the trip to Stade Francis-Le Ble having lost their last half-a-dozen fixtures in France's top flight.

Match preview

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Claude Puel had been doing a solid job in charge of Saint-Etienne, recording 15 wins and eight draws from his opening 36 matches.

However, suffering six defeats in a row, as well as netting just twice during that run, has turned the tables on the Frenchman, who will be aware that he can ill-afford more setbacks over the coming weeks.

Courtesy of a strong start to the season, Saint-Etienne remain two points above the relegation zone, but how they fare during a favourable run of games will determine whether Puel keeps his job during the second half of the campaign.

Top goalscorer Romain Hamouma has not netted since the win over Marseille in the middle of September, with Saint-Etienne's last clean sheet also coming in the same game.

Having finished in 14th position during their first campaign back in Ligue 1, Olivier Dall'Oglio will be delighted that Brest sit in 13th spot at this stage of the season.

With no draws being recorded in their opening 10 matches, progress up the standings has been stop-start, but surviving in the top flight will be Dall'Oglio's main objective.

Achieving that target has been helped by a dramatic 3-2 triumph over Lille in a game which saw their opponents threaten an unlikely comeback from three goals down.

Brest have made a habit of conceding in quick succession in recent matches, something which will need to be phased out if they are ever to threaten the top 10.

Nevertheless, Dall'Oglio will be fully focused on trying to take full advantage of this opportunity, aware that it would put significant distance between themselves and the drop zone.

Brest Ligue 1 form: LWLLLW

Saint-Etienne Ligue 1 form: LLLLLL

Team News

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Dall'Oglio must decide whether his side's second-half performance against Lille is enough to warrant any changes.

Barring any injury issues, the same Brest XI could be given the benefit of the doubt, with Steve Mounie remaining in the side despite five matches without a goal.

Puel could recall Wahbi Khazri and Hamouna after they both started the 2-1 defeat at Lyon among the replacements.

At a time when he is alleged to have turned down a new contract at Saint-Etienne, Arnaud Nordin may be considered after injury.

Brest possible starting lineup: Larsonneur; Pierre-Gabriel, Chardonnet, Duverne, Perraud; Honorat, Belkebla, Lasne, Faivre; Mounie, Cardona

Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup: Moulin; Camara, Moukoudi, Kolodziejczak, Trauco; Youssouf, Gourna-Douath, Neyou, Aouchiche; Khazri; Hamouna

We say: Brest 2-0 Saint-Etienne

While Brest have been far from perfect in recent weeks, they are in far better shape than their opponents. Their success over Lille should help them push on heading into the Christmas period, and we expect a comfortable win for the home side.

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