A solitary goal from Ricky van Wolfswinkel earned Saint-Etienne a slender 1-0 victory over travelling Bastia this evening.
The result moved the hosts into third spot in the Ligue 1 table, five points adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
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Les Verts perhaps should have taken the lead early on, but Benjamin Corgnet could only turn his header wide of the post after he was picked out by Jonathan Brison's cross.
The home side came close again midway through the first period when Kevin Monnet-Paquet found himself free inside the area, but his attempt was dragged wide of the left post.
Bastia failed to put together much in the final third and they were almost made to pay for their indifferent showing before the break.
Van Wolfswinkel was denied only by the post, which kept out his rasping drive from outside the box.
Fabien Lemoine appeared creative for Saint-Etienne in the second period and he proved to be the difference as he fed in Van Wolfswinkel, who gave the hosts the lead in the 58th minute.
Back came Bastia, though, and they almost grabbed an equaliser through youngster Francois Kamano, who hit the post as he tried to steer the ball in from the centre of the box.
Max Gradel should have given his side an easier passage to victory with eight minutes left to play, but his effort from close range flew over the crossbar, leaving Les Verts to scrape a 1-0 win.
Christopher Dodd
