Nice coach Claude Puel has said that his team deserved to beat Evian TG yesterday, although he concedes that they did not play well.

A brace from Eric Bautheac inspired Les Aiglons to their second victory in a row in Ligue 1, which puts them nine points clear of the relegation zone over the winter break.

"We've just had three home games in a row and everybody knows how difficult that is," Ligue1.com quotes Puel as saying.

"We've done the business and I salute the players for their attitude. It's not easy to play on such a pitch but we try our best.

"We deserved to win even if we didn't play well enough in the first half. In the second half we were much better and it would have been unjust had we failed to win."

Nice resume league action away to Rennes on January 11.