Ajaccio salvaged a point from their dour 0-0 draw with Saint-Etienne at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday.

While Les Verts enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the opening period it was the visitors that could have taken the lead when Zumana Camara almost beat his own ‘keeper Jérémy Janot after just six minutes.

The Corsicans went even closer just before the break when Rafik Saïfi crashed a header against Janot’s crossbar from a Romain Rocchi corner.

With an hour gone the home side upped the tempo in search of the opener but despite Frédéric Piquionne testing Ajaccio ‘keeper Stéphane Porato, it was the visitors that created the more dangerous occasions.

Summer signing Stéphane Ziani saw his effort cleared off the line before Christophe Mandrichi sent his header just wide from another Rocchi centre.

Les Verts pushed for a late winner but Rolland Courbis’ men did enough to ensure they returned home with a valuable point.

St Etienne: Janot - F. Diawara, Z. Camara (Perquis 68), Hognon, Ilunga - Sablé (cap), Zokora, Hellebuyck (F. Mendy 81) - P. Feindouno, Piquionne, Mazure (B. Gomis 62)

Ajaccio: Porato - Jabi, Laurenti, Danjou, Collin - Rocchi, Chafni (Merlin 90+2), Rodrigo (cap), S. Ziani - Saifi (Bastien 81), Edson (Mandrichi 70)

Ref: C. Colombo