Bordeaux on top of the Ligue 1

Bordeaux on top of the Ligue 1

Bordeaux gave their Ligue 1 title hopes a huge boost as they blew away visitors Le Mans with three unanswered goals at Chaban-Delmas.

Laurent Blanc's side went ahead early on through a Didier Ovono own goal before second-half goals from Marouane Chamakh and former Manchester United forward David Bellion completed the victory.

With Lyon on the wrong end of a 4-1 humbling at Nice, victory meant Blanc's side went top of the Ligue 1 standings, while the straightforward nature of the win will do wonders for the team's confidence.

Last season's title winners took an early lead when Yoan Gouffran's shot hit the post and the ball rebounded into goalkeeper Ovono and ended up in the back of the net.

Bordeaux continued to dominate but had only one goal to show for it and Le Mans almost levelled when Thorstein Helstad lobbed Cedric Carrasso.

The home goalkeeper looked beaten in the Bordeaux goal but was relieved to see the ball float just over the crossbar.

Carrasso then pulled off a superb save five minutes after half time from Anthony Le Tallec's shot from outside the area.

Bordeaux then doubled their lead when Gourcuff sent in a corner from the left finding Chamakh at the penalty spot, the Moroccan then beating Ovono with a header which went just under the crossbar with 23 minutes to go.

The hosts then wrapped up the points with eight minutes left when Benoit Tremoulinas took on Sebastien Corchia down the left side and played a perfect ball towards the penalty spot where David Bellion's side-footed effort beat Ovono.