27.09.2015 19:30 h

Angers heap more misery on Marseille

Marseille's dismal start to the season continued with a woeful 2-1 defeat at home to Ligue 1 newboys Angers on Sunday.

Goals from Thomas Mangani, a penalty, and Romain Thomas had Marseille in deep trouble at the Stade Velodrome before Michy Batshuayi reduced the deficit 11 minutes from time, again from the spot.

The result left Michel's struggling side down in the bottom half of the table, just four points above the relegation zone.

"We played very badly in the first half, that's not the way to start a match," moaned Michel.

"We weren't in the match and were below par for many minutes. We lacked creativity and penetration.

"I can't explain it but we'll have to find a solution."

Angers continued their impressive return to the top flight after an absence of 21 years as they moved into fifth, but level on points with third-placed Rennes.

"Fifteen points after eight matches is crazy," said Angers coach Stephane Moulin.

"We managed to play to our strengths, the strengths of our club, our generosity, collective discipline.

"We're not crazy, we know Marseille are better than us, individually and collectively, but in football little teams can make life difficult for the big ones."

It was a dire finish to a peculiar match in which the Velodrome was empty at both ends due to a Ligue 1 punishment related to last weekend's incidents during the 1-1 draw with Lyon, in which several Marseille fans threw missiles at police and onto the pitch.

Michel's team failed to muster a single shot on goal in the opening period despite dominating possession.

But they were caught out when Remy Cabella gave away a penalty in bringing down Arnold Bouka Moutou and Mangani shot home high down the centre of the goal from 12 yards on 38 minutes.

Marseille improved after the break, creating three chances in quick succession but Angers goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle saved the best of those with his feet from Bouna Sarr.

Mangani set up the visitors' second 20 minutes from time with a free-kick that Thomas headed home.

Nine minutes later the hosts were given a lifeline as Ferebory Dore brought down Lucas Ocampos and Batshuayi despatched the spot-kick.

There was still time for Marseille to snatch a point but Paolo De Ceglie, Ocampos, Batshuayi and Cabella all missed good chances.

A lucky goal from Nicolas Benezet a minute from time denied Monaco victory as Guingamp snatched a 3-3 draw.

Having won 3-2 at Montpellier on Thursday, Monaco looked on course for a second successive away victory but despite taking the lead three times in the match, through Bernardo Silva, Andrea Raggi and Nabil Dirar, the hosts pegged them back each time thanks to Slovan Privat and a Benezet brace.

The result left Monaco eighth and Guingamp 13th.

Montpellier, the 2012 champions, got their first win of the season in 2-1 victory over mid-table Lorient.

Jonas Martin hit the winner in the 57th minute after Lorient's Rafidine Abdullah had cancelled out Ramy Bensebaini's opener, although Montpellier remain in the bottom three.

Champions Paris Saint-Germain extended their lead at the top on Saturday with a 4-1 win at Nantes as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria all got on the scoresheet.

Caen and Reims drew level with Rennes on 15 points with 2-0 wins over Gazelec Ajaccio and Lille respectively.

Saint-Etienne remain second and can cut the gap to PSG to a point if they beat Nice later on Sunday.