Caen vs Toulouse preview - Casanova looking for momentum

Posted Friday, February 06, 2015 by PA

Toulouse head coach Alain Casanova knows they need to try and build some momentum at Caen this weekend.

The Haute-Garonne club's bright start to the campaign has long since been forgotten given their struggles in Ligue 1 of late.

Last weekend's 1-0 home win against Reims brought a timely end to a six-match winless streak - a poor run leaves them just two points off the relegation zone in 14th place.

On Saturday, Toulouse travel to fellow strugglers Caen looking for a second successive win, which Casanova believes would be huge.

"A victory in a six-point game is even more valuable than another Ligue 1 match," the TFC head coach said.

"I repeat in the dressing room that the difference between the two teams at the same level is primarily down to the state of mind.

"This week the idea was there to have same intensity in training than the previous week.

"We are not in a situation that will allow us to not be 100 per cent determined.

"It is true that this victory (against Reims) was vital. To get out of a situation like ours, it takes time, consistency and regularity. We must try to build momentum."

Caen are just a place and a point worse off than Toulouse ahead of the Stade Michel d'Ornano encounter.

It is a match coach Patrice Garande hopes they can make amends for September's "crazy" 3-3 draw, when Caen took an 86th-minute lead in Toulouse only to be pegged back a minute later.

"I think we could have won," he said. "Maybe we were celebrated together too much when we made it 3-2 and were caught out.

"The ideal result would be to win against Toulouse because, beyond the joy this would bring, we then go to Paris (next Saturday) completely free (of pressure)."