An out-of-form Troyes side welcome Clermont to the Stade de l'Aube in a crucial Ligue 1 encounter for the hosts this Sunday.

A woeful run of results since the end of January means Troyes are now among the heavy favourites to be relegated.

Match preview

During a run of 12 games without a win in Ligue 1, Troyes have taken just three points from a possible 36.

Following their last win back in January, Troyes were five points clear of the drop zone, but their awful run has them five points from safety now with just nine games to play.

Losing a relegation six-pointer against Auxerre last weekend was yet another dagger to Troyes' hopes of survival, as their conquerors have also moved five points clear of them.

Only one win at home all season came way back in August against an Angers side who are bottom of the standings.

Patrick Kisnorbo's side have been the draw specialists on home soil, drawing nine of their last 12 since that Angers win, losing the other three.

That puts doubt on whether they can record a first double over Clermont since the 2004-05 season, having beaten their upcoming opponents in the reverse fixture back in September.

Mama Balde may be crucial if they are to recover from the current bleak situation Troyes find themselves in.

The Guinea-Bissau international has 10 goals this season - the first time he has hit double figures in six seasons in Europe.

Clermont can finish the season safe in the knowledge that they are almost guaranteed to be playing Ligue 1 football again next season.

They have already picked up more points so far this season than they did in all of the last, with their tally of 37 so far after 29 games beating the total they got of 36 last year.

Sitting 11 points clear of trouble means they can forget about looking over their shoulder, but they are too far back to threaten the European places.

Consolidating a mid-table finish and potentially finding the scoring touch will be priorities for manager Pascal Gastien, as no team outside the relegation zone have scored fewer goals than Clermont's 29 this season.

Grejohn Kyei's double from the penalty spot last week made him Clermont's top scorer for the season with just five goals.

Team News

Jackson Porozo is set to miss out again for Troyes as he recovers from a groin problem.

Further issues in defence will see Yasser Larouci and Abdu Conte both miss this one, while a back injury will rule Jeff Reine-Adelaide out.

An Achilles Tendon injury saw Renaud Ripart taken off early in their defeat to Auxerre last week, and Florian Tardeau will also be absent with the same injury.

Serbian attacker Komnen Andric will miss out for Clermont with a hernia, while right-back Mehdi Zeffane's injury-hit season will continue with another absence.

Youngster Yanis Massolin will be the other absentee for Gastien's side here.

Troyes possible starting lineup:
Gallon; Palmer-Brown, Rami, Salmier; T Balde, Kouame, Agoume, Yade; Rony Lopes, M. Balde, Odobert

Clermont possible starting lineup:
Diaw; Konate, Wieteska, Seidu, Neto Borges; Gonalons, Gastien, Khaoui; Allevinah, Kyei, Rashani

We say: Troyes 1-1 Clermont

With Clermont playing mainly for pride, Troyes must take advantage as they are fighting for their Ligue 1 lives, but holding onto leads is a big problem for them.

Since the start of last season, Troyes have dropped a staggering 49 points from winnings positions, opening the scoring on 30 occasions but only winning 10 of those games.


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