They were about to leave with a good option for the return play-off against AJA, the Greens will finally have to do everything again in front of their cauldron audience. An equalizer from Perrin damaged their lead, although it did not doom them. On the other hand, the Saint-Etienne workforce would have done well without some difficulties in view of their condition.
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And if this goal was the one that, in the end, sent the Greens to Ligue 2? Difficult to say when AS Saint-Étienne seemed to master their subject against the formation of AJ Auxerre. Given the nature of the meeting, a victory would not have been undeserved for the men of Pascal Dupraz, but as throughout this season, the defense failed to keep a clean sheet for the entire game. In defense precisely, another problem could take place in the second leg.
Problematic injuries?
While players in full possession of their means are starting to run out on the ASSE side, the troubles don’t seem to be over for Pascal Dupraz. While Sacko, for example, is still recovering from his injury, Lucas Gourna left the Stade Auxerrois injured on Thursday. The player moved around using crutches, and seems to suffer in the arch of the foot, where a bump would have formed. Under these conditions, it is impossible to imagine seeing him tread the lawn of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium at the end of the week in order to defend the colors of his people.
Alongside these two important players, affected before the final game of the season, many Stéphanois are not to remain as sure values this weekend. Romain Hamouma did not come into play and thus casts doubt on his state of form, while several players appear to be at the end of their physical strength after this trying season. In what state will Pascal Dupraz’s team be able to be composed against AJA in front of the local public? The answer to this question could determine the outcome of the meeting.