The former AC Milan and Chelsea manager, who was appointed as PSG's new boss over Christmas despite the club sitting pretty at the top of the table, oversaw the Coupe de France win over Saint-Colomban last weekend, but this was his first taste of league action.

And it was a positive one too, with Nene (58,67) scoring either side of Javier Pastore's 67th-minute goal at the Parc des Princes, ensuring PSG's three-point cushion over Montpellier - who beat Lyon 1-0 tonight - remained.

Daniel Braaten pulled one back two minutes from time.

Montpellier kept the pressure on PSG by edging out fellow title hopefuls Lyon as Olivier Giroud took advantage of some poor defending to score in the 62nd minute.

Rennes continued their challenge near the top of the table with a 2-1 win at Caen, Jires Ekoko (21) and Victor Hugo Montano (65) getting the goals that put their side level on points with Lyon.

Kurt Zouma scored in the 78th minute as St Etienne maintained their push for European football with a 1-0 win over relegation-battling Sochaux.

Bottom side Ajaccio secured a fourth straight win in all competitions with a 2-1 win over Auxerre in a stormy meeting which ended with just 19 men on the pitch.

Dennis Oliech had given Laurent Fournier's Auxerre a 13th-minute lead, but their hopes of a first away win of the season were hamstrung by Anthony Le Tallec's sending off nine minutes later.

Eduardo quickly equalised and Fousseni Diawara put the hosts ahead, before they had Samuel Bouhours and Arnaud Maire sent off in a fiery end to the first half. The second period was more subdued.

The dismissal of Eric Tie Bi proved the key moment as Evian slipped to a 3-1 loss at Dijon.

Substitute Tie Bi had only been on the pitch eight minutes when he was dismissed in the 19th minute, and Dijon took advantage by taking the lead through Benjamin Corgnet three minutes before the break.

Brice Jovial's second-half brace killed the game off before Yannick Sagbo pulled one back 14 minutes from the end.

Nancy and Lorient drew 2-2, Benjamin Moukandjo Bile and Salif Sane scoring for the hosts, with Mathieu Coutadeur and Joel Campbell netting for Lorient.

Bordeaux saw off Valenciennes 2-1 with first-half goals from Jussie and Nicolas Maurice-Belay.

Foued Kadir pulled one back for the visitors, who also had Nicolas Mirin sent off.

Eden Ben Basat scored the only goal after five minutes as Brest claimed a 1-0 win over Nice, who twice hit the woodwork.