Nice win at Brest

Nice returned to winning ways in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 victory at strugglers Brest.

Nice returned to winning ways in Ligue 1 on Saturday with a 2-0 victory at strugglers Brest. Having been edged out by Bordeaux last weekend, Claude Puel's men gave their European hopes a lift thanks to Nemanja Pejcinovic's first-half strike and an own goal from Brahim Ferradj. The win lifts Nice up to fifth in the table, four points behind the top three, but it was a third successive defeat for Brest and they remain four points above the drop zone. It took 13 minutes for Nice to take the lead at Stade Francis-Le Ble. Xavier Pentecote curled in a corner which was only half cleared by the home defence, allowing Pejcinovic to slam the ball home from close range. Goalkeeper Alexis Thebaux was then called upon to palm away a 20-yard drive from Eric Bautheac as the visitors threatened to add to their lead. Brest showed signs of improvement thereafter and a fierce left-footed strike from Abdulwahid Sissoko almost caught Nice goalkeeper David Ospina napping. Ospina pulled off an even better save before half-time to tip away Bruno Grougi's effort after a through ball from Charlison Benschop. However, Nice struck within a minute of the restart. Eric Bautheac flicked the ball on to Camel Meriem, who hit a low shot which Ferradj tried to clear but instead turned into his own net. It was all Nice from then on, but they wasted chances to add to their scoreline with Meriem curling wide and then lobbing a shot over the bar. Brest came close to a late consolation but Geoffrey Dernis put his header into the side netting from a good position.