Victory over Dijon (3-1)

But tonight was a different story, with a different opponent. Dijon, just one point behind Gus Poyet's side in mid-table. Dijon boss Olivier Dall’Oglio arrived in Bordeaux with an injury list almost as long as his team sheet: Balmont, Abeid, Varrault, Xeka, Lautoa, Saïd, Tavares and Jeannot were all out… The omens were good for Bordeaux Kick-off was 8pm, and while the stadium wasn't quite as packed as last week the fans were in fine voice! Gaëtan Laborde, selected in the starting eleven this evening, launched an early attack with François Kamano and Malcom. Meanwhile, tonight's captains were both in goal: Benoît Costil for the Girondins, Baptiste Reynet for Dijon. Both were shouting and gesticulating furiously from their respective penalty areas, but it was Baptiste Reynet who had most to do. In the 6th minute he fluffed a clearance, gifting the ball to François Kamano. The striker dribbled past his man but found Reynet ready and waiting for him. The keeper parried his shot and spilled the ball into the penalty area. Gaëtan Laborde charged down this loose ball, but in his excitement he blasted the ball into the stands. Still, a decent first chance on goal for Bordeaux, as their intensive pressing began to pay off already. In the 16th minute François Kamano connected with a neat back-heel and sent his shot into the side netting. So far the only chances had fallen to the Girondins, but play remained concentrated in midfield. Until Younousse Sankharé decided that enough was enough. The Senegalese international followed up on another shot from François Kamano, which the Dijon keeper duly spilled into his path: a goal for Sankharé! 25 minutes played, 1-0 to Bordeaux! Dijon kept their heads up, determined to keep themselves in the game. Naim Sliti soon had a strong chance at the other end, weaving through the defence before curling in a shot from the right-hand side of the box. It took a full-stretch save from Costil to push the ball out for a corner. Dijon were beginning to look dangerous, and Benoît Costil had two more saves to make before half time. Half time: Bordeaux were 1-0 up but Dijon were enjoying much of the possession and had come perilously close to making that dominance count. The second half got underway, and goalscorer Younousse Sankharé soon lost the ball deep in his own half. Naim Sliti pounced, and was soon scurrying goalwards. Sankharé panicked and hauled him down: penalty. Sliti took it himself, making it 1-1 with 54 minutes played. The Girondins were frustratingly haphazard at times, and while they had managed to get away with a certain sloppiness in the first half, Dijon were beginning to look more incisive and determined to make Bordeaux pay for their mistakes in midfield. Gus Poyet decided to shake things up with two substitutions, bringing off Malcom and Jaroslav Plasil for Soualiho Meïté and Igor Lewczuk. The Girondins switched to 3 at the back, with wing-backs playing very high up the field. The breakthrough came courtesy of François Kamano, who burst into the Dijon box at speed before being pulled down to earn a penalty. The stadium held its breath as Kamano stepped up to take the spot-kick, firing past Reynet to make it 2-1 Bordeaux in the 72nd minute! This second goal appeared to knock the wind out of Dijon. The Girondins were dominating possession, dictating the pace and beginning to watch the clock.  Another attack in the 80th minute gave Bordeaux a corner which the whole team pressed forward to attack. Amid the jostling and decoy runs, Brazilian strongman Pablo rose above the crowd to get his head to the ball. But it was Dijon defender Rosier who got the last touch! Own goal, 3-1 to the Girondins. The last few minutes seemed to drag on forever for Olivier Dall’Oglio's side, who had now well and truly given up on this game. Four minutes of injury time, as Bordeaux passed the ball leisurely around the midfield. Finally the whistle put an end to Dijon's suffering: 3-1 Bordeaux ! This week the Girondins were duly rewarded for their efforts. After last week's unlucky defeat to Paris, Bordeaux will be delighted to get back to winning ways in front of their home fans. They simply outclassed Dijon this evening, rising to 9th in the Ligue 1 table in the process.