No euphoria but the feeling of accomplishment. Solid if not reassuring, Paris FC, which had only taken 2 points out of 12 in its last four games, returned to victory on the field of Rodez (1-0), an opponent weaned from success since… December 3 (16 games). For the Parisians, defeat was forbidden on this 33rd day when all its other direct competitors (AC Ajaccio, Auxerre, Sochaux) also won outside. In the standings, it is therefore the status quo. The PFC remains 4th, 4 points behind 2nd, AC Ajaccio. The two matches next week (reception of Caen on Tuesday at Charléty, then trip to Bastia on Friday) will allow us to see things more clearly.
What you must remember
A victory with the taste of small relief… Compared to the team aligned Monday against Dijon (2-2), Thierry Laurey had made four changes with the returns of Samir Chergui and Ousmane Camara, as well as the tenure of Migouel Alfarela (for the 1st time since October 16) and Mahamé Siby, who returned at the break. If Rodez had shown a lot of aggressiveness, as requested by its president on Friday, during the start, Paris FC, jostled from the start, had been effective by scoring on their first shot. Moustapha Name’s free kick is deflected by Celestine’s thigh (0-1, 11′). The ideal scenario for the Parisians, despite everything not always very serene and fair in the game. But Vincent Demarconnay is reassuring in his aerial outings. The only real possibility for the PFC, the strike of Mahamé Siby which forces Mpasi to a good flight (35th).
After returning to the locker room, Paris FC applies to circulate the ball but the intensity is low. Demarconnay is decisive on a strike from Corredor (59th). To respond to the direct game of Rodez, Thierry Laurey chooses to change the system by switching to three central defenders to finish the match. The PFC is content to defend and suffers during a rather unbreathable end of the match. But Laurey’s speech asking for “more defensive concentration” was heard. For the first time in four games, the team did not concede a goal. Certainly it was laborious, certainly the goal was successful but the essential is there. It will nevertheless be necessary to show something else offensively during the last five games to hope to tease AC Ajaccio and Auxerre who do not seem to have decided to drop points at the start of this final sprint.
Player: Moustapha Name
Dazzling in December before his departure for the CAN, the Senegalese international experienced a return from Cameroon where he was crowned African champion without playing, delicate. But he seems to find the impact he had in the Parisian environment. He also became decisive again. Author of a decisive pass on Monday on Julien Lopez’s second goal against Dijon, he scored the goal against Rodez on a deflected free kick. This is his 5th of the season.
The number: 2
The number of shots on target for Paris FC (out of six in total) during this match. Both in the first half. A figure revealing the poverty of his offensive performance.
The reaction
“It was essential to open the scoring quickly, explained the Parisian coach, Thierry Laurey, after the match. We padlocked the match even if it was tricky at times. We mastered the game in the first but much less in the second. Fortunately there was waste in Rodez… We are satisfied with these 3 points. What satisfies me is that we were concentrated throughout the match. I asked not to concede a goal. This victory will give confidence to our workforce which is a little physically tired. We are less well at the moment and we see that our competitors are fueling. We need to find some freshness for the last matches. “Little by little our injured people are coming back and picking up the pace. »
Match sheet
RODEZ-PARIS FC: 0-1 (0-1)
Referee: Mr. Schneider
But. Name (11e).
Rodez: Mpasi-Nzau – Raux Yao, Celestine (David, 86th), Buades – Malanda, Boissier (cap.), Corredor, Rajot (Danger, 68th), Obiang (Ouammou, 68th) – Depres, Buni Jorge (Dembelé, 64th) Entr. : Peyrelade.
Paris FC : Demarconnay – Chergui (Bamba, 71e), Camara, Kanté, Hanin – Mandouki (ch.), Siby (Bernauer, 82e) – Alfarela (Guilavogui, 71e), Name, Lopez (Campanini, 89e) – Boutaïb (Caddy, 89e) . Entr. : Laurey.