Bordeaux kept up their pursuit of Ligue 1 leaders Lyon with a narrow victory over St Etienne.

Les Girondins were nowhere to be seen in an opening half dominated by Laurent Roussey's visitors.

But Fernando Cavenaghi's strike 10 minutes after the break turned the game and earned Bordeaux three points they probably deserved by virtue of their second-half showing.

ASSE started the game stronger and Colombian Freddy Guarin tried his luck early on from the edge of the box but Ulrich Rame held on.

The visitors continued to attack and after 19 minutes could have gone ahead after a neat move which saw Christophe Landrin release Bafetimbi Gomis.

Gomis took the ball past Bordeaux defender Marc Planus and shot towards goal but again Rame was equal to the task.

Two minutes before half-time St Etienne had another decent chance, with Dimitri Payet's lob beating Rame but sailing just over the bar.

Laurent Blanc's men were a different team and took the lead after 55 minutes.

Fousseni Diawara's clearance was poor and only found Cavenaghi, who shot at goal.

Jody Viviani made the initial save but could do nothing as Cavenaghi turned the rebound into the empty net.

After that it was all Bordeaux, with Viviani doing well to deny both David Bellion and Wendel, whose injury-time strike was deflected out for a corner by the keeper.

The win means Bordeaux again close to within three points of Lyon, who beat Lorient 2-0 on Wednesday.

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