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Payet goal takes Les Verts top |
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St Etienne's leading scorer Dimitri Payet popped up with the winning goal as St Etienne continued to set the pace at the top of Ligue 1 with a rare triumph over local rivals Lyon.
The match was the 100th derby meeting between the two sides, and it was Les Verts who earned the bragging rights with their first win in the grudge fixture for 17 years.
The three points see St Etienne move a point clear at the top of the pile from Rennes, although third-placed Toulouse can pull level on points with Christophe Galtier's men with victory over Lille on Sunday.
Lyon boss Claude Puel's position has been the focus of attention this week after his side's poor start to the campaign, and this latest defeat will not help his hopes of staying in the post.
The loss leaves Lyon second from bottom, boasting a record better only than that of point-less Arles, although the outcome might have been different had the fates smiled on Puel, who saw his side hit the frame of the goal on three occasions.
The first of those chances arrived on 11 minutes when Aly Cissokho's cross found Bafetimbi Gomis and his header slammed against the right-hand post.
Jeremy Toulalan's header from Yohan Gourcuff's corner after 23 minutes beat goalkeeper Jeremy Janot but Payet was in the right place to clear off the line.
Michel Bastos was denied by Janot after 29 minutes as the hosts ended the half as much the stronger side, and they continued to push after the break, with Toulalan the next Lyon player to rattle the frame of the goal after 62 minutes following a flowing team move.
Lyon's misfortune continued two minutes later when Bastos crossed and Jimmy Briand saw his header strike the crossbar.
The inevitable sucker-punch arrived 16 minutes from time when Payet curled home an unstoppable free-kick beyond Hugo Lloris as the forward took his tally for the season to seven goals in seven matches.
And Payet's heroics at both ends of the pitch continued inside the final 10 minutes when Pape Diakhate's header beat Janot but the striker was again positioned perfectly to hack clear and preserve the three points.
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