A solitary goal by Max-Alain Gradel was enough to give Saint-Etienne all three points in a 1-0 Ligue 1 win against Metz this afternoon at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, climbing into fourth place in the process.

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The visitors found themselves on the offensive in the opening stages of the game as several shots rained down in and around the Saint-Etienne goalmouth, but the hosts survived the pressure.

In the seventh minute, Renaud Cohade was responsible for the home side's first effort on goal, but the shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Anthony Mfa Mezui.

Gradel then bore down on goal in the 21st minute, but again the away side's stopper wasn't to be beaten.

Just before the half-hour mark, a Metz counter-attack saw Sergei Krivets come close following a good Yeni N'Gbakoto ball, but his shot flew wide of the post.

With one minute left in the first half, Kevin Theophile-Catherine's header from close range nearly saw Saint-Etienne open the scoring, the effort flying just over.

Eventually, the hosts opened the scoring, though they had to wait until the 74th minute to do so, former Norwich City man Ricky van Wolfswinkel setting up Gradel who subsequently stroked his shot into the bottom corner.

Metz were unable to conjure up a fightback and ultimately succumbed to a defeat that leaves them 10th in the table.