Ajaccio and Nancy still in strife

Nancy missed the chance to haul themselves out of the relegation zone after being held 1-1 at fellow relegation-battlers Ajaccio.

Nancy missed the chance to haul themselves out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone after being held to a 1-1 draw at fellow relegation-battlers Ajaccio. Nancy, who for so long looked doomed to relegation this season, have enjoyed a resurgence in recent weeks and came into the encounter seeking a sixth win in seven. Patrick Gabriel's side began brightly with Paul Alo'o putting them in front inside five minutes, but they were swiftly pegged back by Mehdi Mostefa's leveller as the points were shared. Nancy remain a point shy of the final position of safety with six games remaining, although their fans will be happy enough with that given their travails earlier in the campaign. Ajaccio's supporters will be less enthused, however, with their team now nursing a run of one win in eight that leaves them only four points clear of trouble. Four minutes were on the clock when the visitors went in front, Djamel Bakar receiving the ball and then picking out the run of Alo'o, who finished well under the sprawling Guillermo Ochoa. Ajaccio almost replied within three minutes when Adrian Mutu's header crashed back off the bar, but within 60 seconds the hosts did reply as Mutu's corner was flicked on by Yohan Cavalli and Mostefa was in the right place to head past Damien Gregorini. The goal fired up the hosts and they nearly went ahead midway through the half when Cavalli crossed for Mutu but his volley from close range was somehow kept out by a stunning reflex save by Gregorini. The hosts continued to look the more threatening after the break and were unlucky to see Mutu power a shot against the post after the Romanian had done well to escape Sebastien Puygrenier's attentions. Gregorini denied Ajaccio one final time as he kept out Samuel Bouhours' effort, while Nancy almost snatched all the points with 12 minutes remaining when Benjamin Moukandjo crossed for Salif Sane but his strike was impressively kept out by Ochoa.