Saint-Etienne have eased to a 3-1 win over Valenciennes at Stade du Hainaut to move to the top of Ligue 1.

A Benjamin Corgnet brace and a goal from Romain Hamouma proved too much for the hosts, who pulled one back through a late Maor Melikson penalty.

The visitors went ahead in the 17th minute when Nicolas Penneteau let a low cross slip through his body, leaving Corgnet to tap into an empty net.

The away side doubled their lead shortly after the break as Hamouma turned in the centre of the Valenciennes half before smashing an effort past a poorly-positioned Penneteau.

Saint-Etienne added a third in the 54th minute when Corgent picked up the ball on the edge of the area before slamming home between the legs of Penneteau.

Valenciennes nearly pulled one back on the hour mark when Anthony Le Tallec drilled a low free kick from the edge of the box towards the bottom corner, but Stephane Ruffier pulled off a wonderful save.

The hosts did manage to find a goal when they were awarded a penalty for a handball with eight minutes to play, which Melikson squeezed past Ruffier.