Angers close to safety after 1-0 win at Nantes as travelling fans revel | OneFootball

Angers, Ligue 1's smallest budget, claimed a 1-0 derby victory at Nantes on Saturday. The result, barring catastrophe, all but secures their survival with nine matches remaining and sparked exuberant celebrations among a large travelling support.

L'Équipe reports that about 1,200 SCO fans filled the away end, with many more dotted around La Beaujoire, and their chants dominated. This derby has become the club’s landmark fixture of the season.

Hervé Koffi was commanding in goal, centre-backs Ousmane Camara and Jordan Lefort were strong, and Amine Sbaï, used as a No 10, scored the winner. Veteran Pierrick Capelle, 38, even produced a daring dribble past Nicolas Cozza.

Head coach Alexandre Dujeux framed the win as especially sweet given Nantes’ history and the SCO’s usual inferiority complex in the rivalry, and he relished saluting a packed away section. He also underlined that his squad is not the deepest, felt they were being rewarded, and wanted to enjoy the present.

It was Angers’ third straight derby victory over their neighbours, after 1-0 in May last year and 4-1 in December. The only negative was Yassin Belkhdim being taken to hospital with rib pain. The next aim is to improve on last season’s 14th place with 36 points, a target now within reach.

Source: L'Équipe