Stade Reims 2 - 3 Montpellier: Reims stay in bottom three after defeat to Montpellier

Reims were left deep in trouble at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table as they went down 3-2 at home to Montpellier.

Souleymane Camara's first-half header was all that separated the sides until a frantic finale.

Prince Oniangue's 83rd-minute equaliser was swiftly rendered moot by goals from Daniel Congre and Morgan Sanson before Reims' Thievy Bifouma scored a stoppage-time consolation.

The hosts made a nervy start and had to wait until to 25 minutes to work Geoffrey Jourdren in the Montpellier goal but Nicolas De Preville's 18-yard effort was straightforward for the visiting stopper.

Montpellier responded and Jerome Roussillion looked to work Johan Carrasso just after the half-hour mark but his 25-yard effort sailed over the bar.

Then, just a few minutes later, the hosts fell behind when Ryad Boudebouz's near-post delivery was headed beyond Carrasso by Camara to send Montpellier into the break with a goal advantage.

Reims almost levelled straight after the restart when Oniangue's delivery was sent goalwards by Traore but Roussillon was on hand to clear off his own line.

Reims continued to huff and puff and almost got reward as the final 10 minutes approached when Ellyes Skhiri deflected Oniangue's effort beyond Jourdren, but the crossbar denied the hosts a leveller.

Montpellier ignored that warning and paid the price moments later when Oniangue met De Preville's corner at the near post to head beyond Jourdren.

Elation soon turned to disappointment for the hosts, though, as Montpellier restored their lead just a minute later thanks to a well-taken Congre header.

And Reims' misery was compounded moments later when Sanson made it 3-1, finishing confidently on the counter after Casimir Ninga picked out the substitute.

Bifouma scored a second Reims goal in added time, benefiting from a lapse in the visiting defence to reduce the deficit, but the damage had already been done as the hosts remained in Ligue 1's bottom three. Victory lifted Montpellier clear of any lingering danger.