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| Rennes slipped to their first defeat |
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Leaders Rennes could not find a way past inspired Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren as they slipped to their first defeat of the Ligue 1 season.
Joris Marveaux's header two minutes before the break put the visitors in front, but they were dealt a blow when Garry Bocaly was sent off for a dangerous tackle just after the hour mark.
But despite a host of chances Rennes could not find an equaliser and ended up finishing the game with 10 men as well, Abdou Kader Mangane seeing red in the 83rd minute.
Rennes remained top of the pile despite the defeat, although their lead was cut to one point.
The home side started brightly and Jourdren was called into action by free-kicks from Sylvain Marveaux and Jerome Leroy.
Jourdren kept out Rennes again in the 39th minute. Yacine Brahimi brought the ball forward to the edge of the area and played in the unmarked Jires Kembo Ekoko, but Jourdren made the save.
Instead it was Montpellier who took a shock lead in the 43rd minute as Joris Marveaux planted a superb header back across goal and into the top corner from Marco Estrada's corner.
The visitors continued to look dangerous after the break and Souleymane Camara shot powerfully over the bar and Estrada fired a free-kick inches wide of the left post with keeper Nicolas Douchez beaten.
But they suffered a setback in the 62nd minute when Bocaly was dismissed for a dangerous tackle on Kembo Ekoko, although replays suggested the decision was a harsh one.
Rennes looked to seize the initiative and make the most of the extra man, Abdoul Camara bringing a splendid save out of Jourdren, who went full stretch to push his long-range effort which had been destined for the top corner out for a corner.
The keeper also turned away Kevin Theopile Catherine's strong shot and blocked a Kembo Ekoko effort as he almost single-handedly kept his side in the lead.
He got lucky in the 79th minute when he needed two attempts to keep out Yann M'Vila's effort and almost let the ball slip into the net, but his display had earned him the slice of good fortune.
And Rennes' disappointing afternoon was complete in the 83rd minute when they had Kader Mangane sent off for dangerous play.
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