Montpellier HSC have moved into fourth position in the Ligue 1 table having scraped past Lorient with a slender 1-0 victory this evening.

Raphael Guerreiro came closest for Lorient in the opening 15 minutes of the game, as he saw a powerful shot bound for the bottom corner saved by a sprawling Geoffrey Jourdren.

Montpellier should have put themselves in front following Abdelhamid El Kaoutari's set piece, but playmaker Anthony Mounier spooned over the bar despite being inside the six-yard box.

The visitors built up some sustained pressure as both Lucas Barrios and Kevin Berigaud wasted chances, before Montpellier got their goal as Lamine Kone put into his own net on the stroke of half time.

Lorient might have pulled things level after the break, but striker Jordan Ayew saw his fine long-distance shot saved at the bottom corner by keeper Jourdren, leaving the final score at 1-0.