Romain Poyet gives Brest a league boost

Published Nov. 20, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Brest put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom three in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Sochaux on Sunday afternoon.

Bruno Grougi scored the opener from the penalty spot following a challenge which saw Mathieu Peybernes sent off, with Romain Poyet adding another 10 minutes from time as the home side picked up only their second league win of the season.

The result lifts them two points behind mid-table Sochaux.

Brest had the first chance after seven minutes with a free-kick from Grougi which had to be punched away by Teddy Richert in the Sochaux goal.

Another Grougi free-kick after 19 minutes was just as troublesome for Richert, who again had to use his fists to clear the danger.

The Brest midfielder was proving to be something of a handful for the visiting defence, and he came close to opening the scoring on the half-hour mark with a shot from 18 yards which flew inches wide of the left post.

Sochaux were grateful for a period of respite towards the end of the half when Edouard Butin's cross-shot had to be tipped away from the top corner by goalkeeper Steeve Elana.

But Brest quickly reasserted their authority after the interval and Richert made another good stop to keep out a testing drive from Nolan Roux.

The hosts finally got the goal their efforts deserved after 68 minutes. Eden Ben Basat was felled in the area by Peybernes, who received a red card for the ugly challenge.

Grougi was successful with the spot-kick, sending Richert the wrong way.

Poyet then put the result beyond doubt 10 minutes from time, finishing off a fine run and cross from Roux with a right-footed volley beyond the reach of Richert.