Monaco vs Bordeaux preview - Plasil wants more of the same

Bordeaux midfielder Jaroslav Plasil wants his side to use last weekend's second-half display against Toulouse as their benchmark for future performances - starting with their tough trip to Monaco.

Les Girondins progressed to the last 32 of the Coupe de France after seeing off Toulouse 2-1 last Sunday, goals from Thomas Toure and Abdou Traore helping them secure a showdown with Paris St Germain in the next round.

That was a welcome start to 2015 for Bordeaux after they finished last year with three successive defeats - including a 5-0 home mauling to Lyon in Ligue 1 - and Plasil is now looking for more of the same.

He said: "We suffered a bit under the pressure Toulouse put on us in the first half, but we were definitely the better side after the break. We outclassed Toulouse, and we really deserved that victory.

"There's a great deal of quality in this squad and I think you could see that coming through. Now we just need to play like that for a whole game, and then for the next one, and the next one after that. That's what we're aiming for."

Bordeaux's back-to-back league defeats to Nantes and Lyon before Christmas left them in sixth spot on 31 points, one place and one point below in-form Monaco.

Monaco have picked up seven successive wins in all competitions - including a penalty shoot-out triumph over Lyon in the Coupe de la Ligue - and Plasil is expecting an exciting encounter against his former side at Stade Louis II.

The Czech Republic international said on www.girondins.com: "It should be a good one. Monaco have managed to fight their way back up to the top end of the table.

"We want to keep up with the leading pack, and that means we need to get a result down in Monaco."

Monaco's winning streak has lifted them to within six points of stuttering champions PSG in third and they will be optimistic of continuing their good form as they now have four successive home games coming up.

The first of those is the visit of Bordeaux - a team Monaco lost 4-1 to earlier this season - and coach Leonardo Jardim is keen to ensure his players know the value of doing well in that game.

He told a press conference: "The match against Bordeaux is very important. It's a team who play very well. We're a point ahead of them and we will play to win on Sunday."