Clermont will be seeking to snap a seven-game winless run and steer clear of the relegation zone when they visit the Stade de l'Aube to face Troyes on Wednesday.

Bruno Irles's men, meanwhile, head into the game unbeaten in each of their last five games on home turf and will look to keep this fine form going and strengthen their position in the Ligue 1 standings.

Match preview

Troyes failed to return to winning ways in Ligue 1 as they could only come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw in the clash with Strasbourg last Sunday.

Following an uneventful first half, Habib Diallo converted his 56th-minute penalty to put the visitors ahead, but Florian Tardieu made no mistake at the opposite penalty spot 29 minutes later as he finished with aplomb to even the tie.

Prior to that, Irles's side saw their five-game unbeaten run come to an end on April 4, when Caio Henrique and Kevin Volland scored either side of Ike Ugbo's 39th minute equaliser to hand Monaco a 2-1 victory.

Troyes have picked up eight wins, nine draws and lost 15 of their 32 games this season to collect 33 points and sit in 15th place in the Ligue 1 table, one point adrift of 14th-placed Angers.

Elsewhere, Clermont's suffered yet another injurious result in their bid to beat the drop last weekend when they were held to a 1-1 draw by rock-bottom Metz at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.

Nicolas de Preville and Jodel Dossou scored for either side to force a share of the spoils despite Ibrahima Niane's 40th-minute red card that saw Metz play out most of the game with a numerical disadvantage.

Pascal Gastien's men have now failed to taste victory in any of their last seven games, picking up two draws and losing five while conceding 20 goals and scoring six since a 2-0 win at Marseille on February 20.

Off the back of clinching promotion last season, Clermont now risk an immediate return to the second tier as they find themselves 18th in the table with 29 points from 32 games and one point off Saint-Etienne just outside the relegation places.

The Lancers' struggles this season could be pinned to their defensive frailties as they have shipped 61 goals so far, while they also hold the division's second-worst record on home turf with 14 points from 16 games.

Team News

Troyes will be without Karim Azamoum, who is currently recuperating from a knee problem, while fellow countryman Gauthier Gallon is set to miss his third game on the spin after coming off injured against Reims on April 3.

Irles will also be unable to call upon the services of 26-year-old forward Lebo Mothiba, who missed the game against Strasbourg after picking up an injury versus Monaco two Sundays ago.

Another name on Troyes' injury list is 29-year-old defender Yoann Salmier, who has started 28 of the 32 games so far this season, meaning Youssouf Kone could come in for his eighth starting appearance of the season.

Clermont, meanwhile, will be without several key players down the spine of the team as defender Cedric Hountondji, midfielder Jason Berthomier, and forward Pierre-Yves Hamel will all sit out the game through injuries.

Centre-back Vital N'Simba is set to miss his third consecutive game after the Congo DR defender picked up an injury against Nantes on April 3.

Elbasan Rashani is also out of contention for the Lancers after the 28-year-old forward came off injured in the game versus Lens back in March.

Troyes possible starting lineup:
Moulin; Biancone, Palmer-Brown, Kone, Kabore, Tardieu; Kouame, Conte, Ripart, Ugbo; Chavalerin

Clermont possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Zedadka, Seidu, Billong, Mendy; Magnin, Gastien; Dossou, Berthomier, Khaoui; Bayo

We say: Troyes 1-1 Clermont

Clermont find themselves at the wrong end of the table after an underwhelming campaign and will head into Wednesday's game in search of a spirit-lifting result. The Lancers will fancy their chances against an equally underperforming Troyes side, but we predict the hosts will make use of their home advantage and force a share of the spoils.

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