Auxerre in command as Lyon, Bordeaux falter

Paris: Auxerre capitalised on slip-ups by Lyon and Bordeaux to move into a clear lead at the top of the French league on Saturday.

Lyon were held to a 1-1 draw at Grenoble while champions Bordeaux were downed 1-0 at home by Valenciennes earlier in the day. That left the stage clear for Auxerre to leapfrog this duo with a result against Monaco in the evening game and the former titleholders duly produced the goods with a 2-0 win. Mali international Adama Coulibaly gave the Burgundy side the lead in first half injury time and Delvin Ndinga put the result beyond reach of Monaco two minutes from the whistle.That lifted Auxerre up from third to first with 26 points, with Bordeaux edging Lyon for second on goal difference on 25 points. Bordeaux fell behind to a seventh minute strike from French-born Mali international Mamadou Samassa and Laurent Blanc`s side failed to overcome that early shock. Bordeaux`s loss was the first time they had suffered defeat at the hands of Valenciennes on home turf since 1976. The northern side`s reward was a jump of five places up to fourth. Samassa said: "We were lucky to score early and then spent the rest of the game in our half. When we play away from home we feel liberated, if we succeed in getting points at home like we do on the road we can have a great season." Valenciennes coach Philippe Montanier added: "This win gives us a great deal of pleasure - it`s a real feat to beat Bordeaux, they are one of the best European sides. "To win here you have to have a few ingredients - a good goalkeeper, a bit of success and this evening we had them all." Like Bordeaux, who were missing their French international stars Yoann Gourcuff and Alou Diarra, Lyon too were without Jeremy Toulalan and Dia Cissokho, absences which evidently had a detrimental effect on their respective performances. With Grenoble`s Laurent Courtois sent off in the 70th minute Lyon were unable to make the most of their numerical advantage. Argentina winger Cesar Delgado put the former multiple champions into a 66th minute lead only for Danijel Ljuboja to level seven minutes later. Both Bordeaux (Juventus) and Lyon (Florentina) are in Champions League group action this week with qualification to the next round already assured. Elsewhere Lens beat Nancy 2-1 and Rennes defeated Le Mans by the same scoreline. On Friday a first-half goal from Gabriel Heinze vaulted Marseille back into the French title race, securing a 1-0 win at the Stade Velodrome over Paris St Germain. That put Didier Deschamps men in fifth on 22 points, three shy of Auxerre. Sunday`s action sees Saint Etienne host Lorient, Toulouse on the road at Nice and Lille at Montpellier. Bureau Report