Saint-Etienne vs Evian Thonon Gaillard preview - Galtier targets winning finish

Posted Saturday, December 20, 2014 by PA

St Etienne coach Christophe Galtier aims to finish the year on a high with a Ligue 1 home victory over Evian on Sunday.

Les Verts have broken into the top four in the league and kept their impressive run of form going with a last-16 Coupe De La Ligue victory at Lorient on Wednesday.

St Etienne have had the added burden of playing in the Europa League this season but they are unbeaten in 10 games in domestic competitions, a sequence stretching back to a 1-0 home defeat to Toulouse at the start of October, and have kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league.

"We are in a very positive moment," Galtier told the official St Etienne website.

"We have a very interesting total (33 points) given the number of close matches we have had and the Christmas gift I would like is a victory over Evian to close the first half of the season.

"The important thing is to finish the year on a good note and I have a group of competitors who have been able to win games in significant periods.

"But Evian will be a difficult match because they are always committed to stay in the league."

Evian are two points above the relegation zone following back-to-back 3-2 defeats to Lyon and Reims and veteran defender Aldo Angoula seems to set to return, with Cedric Cambon suspended.

Injury and suspension has limited Angoula's game-time this season but he came on as a late substitute in Reims last weekend.

"It felt good even if it was for a short time," Angoula told the official Evian website.

"I know in January there will be more time to play but I will do my best against St Etienne.

"Our performance (against Reims) was not bad and we must show spirit and play like that again."

Full-back Kevin Theophile-Catherine should return to the St Etienne defence after being rested for the Lorient cup tie while Ismael Diomande is competing for a starting spot after completing his suspension.

Evian pair Milos Ninkovic and Jonathan Mensah hope to shake off injuries to feature on the final weekend before the festive break.