By A. Scott
AS Saint-Etienne coach Jean-Louis Gasset admits inconsistency is holding his team back as they prepare to welcome Angers SCO to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday.
AS Saint-Etienne – Angers SCO 
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Les Verts ended last weekend in sixth place in the Ligue 1 Conforama table, just behind Olympique de Marseille and their bitter rivals Olympique Lyonnais. That was despite letting go of an early lead in a 1-1 draw away to Nîmes Olympique after Rémy Cabella had put them in front inside a minute.
Saint-Etienne have not won any of their last three outings, taking just two points from a possible nine in October. Before that they had won three on the bounce, and getting back to winning ways is vital for Gasset’s side as they build up to the trip to Lyon on November 23.
“We need to find more consistency,” admitted veteran coach Gasset this week. “We have an inconsistent team: in terms of our results where we are capable of winning three games on the trot and then not win any of the next three; in terms of our play, where we can dominate for three quarters of an hour and then switch off; and in terms of the players, where one out of two are good in one game, and then it’s the other way round in the next.”
Watch: Saint-Etienne held by Crocodiles
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Two things could play into Saint-Etienne’s hands this weekend. Firstly, their players should be feeling fresher after their Coupe de la Ligue tie back at Nîmes, due to be staged on Wednesday, was called off after heavy rain in the south of France left the pitch at the Stade des Costières unplayable.
The late decision to postpone that game did not go down well with the club, but it meant attentions could immediately turn to preparing for the visit of Angers. Snowfall over Saint-Etienne has also complicated training plans this week, and yet the fact that Les Verts are at home here should help.
Les Verts have lost just once in 15 home games in all competitions in 2018, with that sole reverse coming at the hands of Girondins de Bordeaux back in May, a crucial setback in their bid to qualify for Europe.
Being difficult to beat at home is essential for Gasset, who will have Wahbi Khazri, Mathieu Debuchy and Loïc Perrin in his squad after resting them for the Cup tie that never was. Summer signing Khazri has wasted no time in making an impression at the club and is their top scorer with five goals, but there have been concerns about the form of Perrin, the club captain who has been a fantastic servant for 15 years but is now 33.
Traoré blow
Angers have their own problems at the back, with Ismaël Traore suspended. The 32-year-old Paris-born Ivory Coast international central defender was sent off in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at home against Lyon and already sat out the midweek Coupe de la Ligue tie against Guingamp.
His absence is a big blow for Stéphane Moulin’s team, considering his presence at the back but also at the other end – he is Angers’ leading scorer this season with three goals.
Watch: Ten-man Angers beaten by Lyon
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Without him, the SCO lost on penalties after a goalless draw with Guingamp in Brittany, and they have also failed to win any of their last four league outings. They have not won away to Saint-Etienne since 1972, which is the last year Angers finished above Les Verts in the table.
“We were away from home but we still imposed our way of playing. But once again the main thing was lacking,” said Moulin after the Guingamp game, as Angers again toiled in front of goal. But he added: “There were positives. We didn’t concede, which hadn’t happened in a while.”
Keeping Khazri and Cabella quiet in the absence of Traoré will be a big challenge, though.
Probable teams
Saint-Etienne: To follow
Angers: To follow
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