An honourable cup defeat in Brest [3-0]

As is tradition, the Girondins kicked off the new year with the 4th round of the Coupe de France - and this time the starting line-up featured no fewer than 6 youngsters making their first-team debut: Davy Rouyard, Mohamed Aggoun, Tijany Atallah, Johaneko Louis-Jean, Emeric Depussay and Johab Pascal all lined up alongside the few remaining experienced professionals. As the cold January wind buffeted Brest's Stade Francis Le Blé, the young Girondins produced a performance of great maturity and application. Bordeaux started well, leaving little space for Brest to get forward, but Michel Der Zakarian's side gradually came to dominate possession. The Bretons eventually made their dominance count when they took the lead from the penalty spot, with Mounié doing the honours (36’, 1-0). Stand-in keeper Davy Rouyard produced two great saves just before half time (39’, 45’) to keep the Girondins in this game at the break.

The young keeper impressed again in the second half, pulling off an excellent stop to deny Cardona from point-blank range (59’). This makeshift Bordeaux team fought valiantly against more experienced opposition, throwing themselves into every challenge. Three more youngsters made their first-team debut as second-half subs, namely Rudy Orea (63’), Jacques Ekomié (63’) and Sié Milama Ouattara (80’). The Girondins but on a brave display, but a second penalty scored by Faivre (81’, 2-0) and a late strike from Le Douaron (90+3’, 3-0) sealed qualification for Brest.

The scoreline clearly did not reflect the courageous performance produced by a much-changed Bordeaux side featuring 9 young debutants. But the Coupe de France is an unforgiving contest, and the Girondins' cup run came to a premature end this afternoon.