Rene Girard's team had won five and lost only two of their first eight games, but looked set for another defeat today when they trailed 2-0 to goals from Cheick Diabate and Mickael Ciani, despite Bordeaux defender Marc Planus' dismissal.

Curiously, both Montpellier's goals came after they too had been reduced to 10 men, with captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa sent off before Younes Belhanda's penalty and defender Hilton's injury-time equaliser.

Sochaux put their last two results behind them with a convincing 3-0 home victory over high-flying Toulouse at the Stade Auguste Bonal.

After conceding 10 goals in their previous two games, which yielded no points, victory over the high-flying visitors was welcome - particularly as they kept a clean sheet in doing so.

Modibo Maiga netted twice and Cedric Bakambu got the other goal as Mehmed Bazdarevic's men moved back into the top half of the Ligue 1 table with this morale-boosting success.

Auxerre were held to a sixth draw in their nine Ligue 1 games this season despite taking an early lead at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Ben Sahar struck after five minutes and Anthony Le Tallec was denied a second by an erroneous offside flag just seven minutes later. But Josua Guilavogui equalised before half-time and each team hit the woodwork in the second half as an entertaining encounter ended all square.

Lorient extended their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 and moved up to fifth place with a 2-0 home victory over Valenciennes.

Costa Rican forward Joel Campbell, on loan to Lorient from Arsenal, scored the opening goal in the 23rd minute and Yann Jouffre's strike midway through the second period wrapped up the win.

Ligue 1 strugglers Nice snatched a barely deserved 1-1 draw at Caen after a defensive error gifted them a late equaliser.

Caen had been heading for three points after Pierre-Alain Frau's opening goal but when Nicolas Seube handed possession to the visitors in added time, Eric Mouloungui scored the equaliser.

Ajaccio nudged their way out of the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw at Dijon's Gaston Gerard Stadium.

Both sides were promoted to Ligue 1 last season and although Dijon have found the transition somewhat easier than their opponents, there was nothing to choose between the sides today apart from Jean-Pierre Pierazzi's last-minute sending-off for Ajaccio.

Mehdi Mostefa opened the scoring for the visitors in the 18th minute but the advantage was cancelled out four minutes from half-time by Eric Bautheac.

There was also a 1-1 draw between Nancy and Evian.

Loosemy Karaboue had given Nancy hope of claiming a maiden victory after putting his side ahead in the 54th minute, but Evian drew level soon after through Cedric Mongongu's penalty to earn a share of the spoils.