Valenciennes too strong for Brest

Valenciennes have moved up to mid-table in Ligue 1 with a 2-1 win against Brest at home.

The hosts took the lead in the 10th minute when Mathieu Dossevi found the target with his right foot from the right side of the penalty box.

Anthony Le Tallec headed Loris Nery's cross just high for Valenciennes, before Kamel Chafni and Abdoulwhaid Sissoko had their attempts saved for Brest.

The two sides continued to exchange chances without adding to the tally until first-half injury time when Rudy Mater fired home from outside the box to make it 2-0 to Valenciennes.

Le Tallec came close once again after the break with a header and so did Carlos Sanchez just past the hour mark.

Brest halved the deficit in the final minute of normal time through Florian Raspentino, but it proved to be a mere consolation.