Auxerre spark late survival bid

Posted Friday, May 04, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Auxerre climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time since January and dragged Dijon deeper into the bottom three with a 2-0 win at their relegation rivals in Thursday's Ligue 1 game.

After Sunday's 4-0 thrashing of Brest, it was the first time Auxerre had registered back-to-back wins this season.

Victory lifted them out of the drop zone on goal difference with three matches of the season remaining.

"It's our first away victory this season, and it's important," said Auxerre coach Jean-Guy Wallemme, who replaced the sacked Laurent Fournier in March.

"Nothing is over yet. I'm happy for my team, because they never stopped believing that survival was possible."

Dijon and Brest are both level on 34 points with Wallemme's side, but defeat saw Dijon fall to second-bottom.

Roy Contout made the breakthrough in the 30th minute at Stade Gaston Gerard, stooping to head Alain Traore's left-wing cross inside the right-hand post.

Brice Jovial rattled the Auxerre crossbar in the 75th minute before substitute Delvin N'Dinga strolled through the hosts' defence and beat Dijon goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet to seal victory in the 86th minute.

Auxerre, who competed in last season's Champions League after a third-place finish in 2009-10, host Bordeaux on Monday before visiting Marseille on May 13 and finish the season at home to current league leaders Montpellier.

Dijon have now lost their last five games in Ligue 1 and visit Lorient on Monday.