Bordeaux dig deep for the win [2-1]

What an atmosphere! With 87 minutes on the clock, the game was still balanced on a knife edge. But then Issouf Sissokho won the ball in midfield and laid it off for Zurico Davitashvili, who charged past his marker and unleashed a rocket with his left foot. Dijon keeper Reynet had no chance (2-1, 87’). Bordeaux were set for victory.

The final minutes were unbearably intense, with Gaëtan Poussin producing a miracle to stop two successive headers (90’). His snap save for the second one all but sealed the result. The final hair-raising moment came deep in injury time, when Camara went down inside the Bordeaux box under a challenge from Emeric Depussay. Dijon had a decent penalty shout denied (90’+4), but it was only fair enough after Malcom Bokele suffered the same fate earlier in the second half (54’).

It was a penalty which really got this game started, an early spot-kick awarded to Vital Nsimba when he was hauled down by a late tackle inside the box. Josh Maja did the honours, firing the ball past Reynet's fingertips for his fifth goal of the season (1-0, 8’). Bordeaux looked supremely comfortable in this first half, creating chances when they had the ball and leaving little room for Dijon to find a way into the game. The Girondins could, and perhaps should, have put the game to bed were it not for Reynet in the Dijon goal. Dilane Bakwa was twice denied by the keeper (26’ and 43’), and so too was Zurico Davitashvili (35’).

Dijon showed little attacking promise in the first period, apart from a brief incursion by Tchaouna (32’). But Omar Daf's side looked altogether more lively in the second half, with Jacob (48’, 60’) testing the Bordeaux back four before Le Bihan snuck in to snatch an equaliser. Leading a rapid counter-attack, he managed to brush off Clément Michelin and slip the ball past Gaëtan Poussin at the front post (1-1, 72’). Dilane Bakwa (51’) and Vital Nsimba (58’) both had chances for Bordeaux, before our newly-signed Georgian international eventually grabbed the winning goal. David Guion's side put on a gritty, highly promising display this afternoon, and look to be going from strength to strength. They will be making the most of the international break to work on their weaknesses, but in terms of mentality they have already showed their mettle. They dug in and fought for this win, and truly deserved the three points.