Big game for Chateauroux this past evening against USL Dunkerque. With the league so tight at the moment it was important not to lose ground on the early pace setters.
Whilst Beerschot have started to find some consistency in selection, the same cannot be said for Chateauroux, who, having been plagued with three suspensions now faced an injury crisis.
With Sangante suspended in defence after a red , the last they needed was Ouaneh out due to a culmination of bookings. On top of that Fofana having been withdrawn in the last game was still not fit. Three central defensive options missing as well as another defender, Youssouf.
Delecroix remained a calming influence in goal as remaining full backs Fouda. Who isn't playing too well at the moment and Mbengue tool care of the wide areas. A new defensive partnership was needed. Basque, usually deployed in midfield, who I'd noted had played in defens before at a higher level, filled one spot and the other went to the giant young Ahoussou.
It reminds me a little of when Tonge emerged into the United team and the midfield just clicked with him, Brown, McCall and Ndlovu.
In this case, Chateauroux started the season with a midfield three of Mexique. Basque and Daham. A young 19 year old, late signing in the window. Viltard played last week as a number 6, an area they seemed lacking, and already he seems undroppable. Sunu, the former Arsenal youth, now 29, also seemed out of it and having scored the other week, started as captain. Daham was restored to complete the new dynamic.
Further forward and despite his lqck of goal prowess, they persevered with the veteran, Roux. Completing the front line of the 4-3-3 was Ntolla. Now a fixture on the left and someone who wasn't featuring early on and Bianchini on the right.
The two remaining forwards. Ndour and Germouche were on the bench as was reserve keeper Plumain and Mexique but with no senior defender there was a first appearance of Jason Gnapka, 18 year old, 1.87m centre back. He signed a contractfor 2 years as a trainee followed by 3 as a pro, so they must think highly of him. Google translate the below for more info.
La Berrichonne de Châteauroux est très heureuse d’annoncer la signature de Jason Gnakpa, jeune défenseur central de 18 ans, issu du Centre de Formation.
www.berrichonne.net
To the match, and earlier comments on their somewhat sparsely populated message board were wholly negative. With so many injuries, surely a draw would be favorable? This was the general mood with concern especially around the makeshift defence.
They got off to an encouraging start, forcing three consecutive corners. Then on 14 minutes, a center from Sunu lands on the head of Ahoussou and it's one-nil from the set piece. It seems the National Twitter had the night off so I'll retrieve the goal later.
So one turning point, 6 minutes later a second. Senneville clumsily catches the goal provider, Sunu, who requires medical attention and will later go to hospital for observation and is out of the game. It's a straight red for USL Dunkerque but Chateauroux loses a form player who is replaced by Mexique on 35 minutes after gainfully trying to continue.
Immediately Chateauroux attacks through Daham whose effort is saved but then Chateauroux are saved by their keeper in a one v one and survive another scare where Ahoussou blocks a shot and they are happy to see half time.
The interval sees Basque return strapped up as a painful knee to knee collision leaves him struggling but with limited options he soldiers on.
Chateauroux are denied a penalty for a slight touch on Fouda in the area and meanwhile Viltard and Delecroix continue to mop up the danger. Elsewhere Pean in the the Dunkerque goal saves a header from Roux and a 35 yarder from Viltard.
In all it doesn't seem as if Chateauroux have the extra man but aside from Germouche replacing Bianchini, they see out a tight game to remain in the mix.
Without the goalscorer Robinet, though not sure 4-3-3 suited him, Chateauroux will probably have to endure their fair share of tight butt-clenching matches like this one unless one of the newbies starts to make their mark in the forwards.
The win leaves Chateauroux nicely placed joint top on 12 points with Concarneau, Avranches and Dunkerque whilst three teams including Nancy as well as local rivals US Orleans bad Versailles sit one point behind. In fact down as far as 12th are within one win of top such is the closeness at this early stage.
Players Sangante and Youssouf will return next week from suspension as will Ouaneh so it remains to be seen how much this defence will be seen again but fresh bodies will help especially as the next two matches are away at Concarneau next Monday and home to favorites Nancy the following week.
Concarneau are based in Brittany. Twinned with Penzance it has a medieval walled part of the town in the center of a harbour. Well worth a look on wiki.
When the goals come out I'll post on here.
For now at least the United World teams well placed. Over and out!
