National: Nîmes Olympique is far from reaching the goal after its draw against Marignane-Gignac

À l’image de Freddy Mbemba, Nîmes a gâché un nombre important d’occasions, vendredi devant Marignane-Gignac. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Maladroits et inefficaces vendredi soir devant Marignane-Gignac (1-1), les Crocos vont devoir trouver la solution pour marquer plus. Sinon, le maintien sera compliqué à obtenir.

"This match, we must win it a hundred times !" Holder for only the third time in the Championship and chosen for "his ability to move between the lines because Marignane-Gignac had problems at that level" (Bompard), Axel Thoumin was disgusted, Friday March 22, after the draw conceded against the Provençaux (1-1). "We were not successful (1 post and a crossbar, Editor's note), we lacked the lucidity to finish our chances", regretted the Mâconnais.

The 26th day of National and the ranking

Lack of accuracy in the last gesture

"We were much superior to this team and we fully deserved to win because there was quality in our game. We never had so many chances this season ( 13 shots, 21 shots, editor's note), we could have won 5-1, Frédéric Bompard similarly railed, almost annoyed to hear the question once again: " How to explain this lack of efficiency ?" His response : "It’is the same every time, the lack of accuracy in the last gesture."

In training, the same efficiency problem

Coach Croco, when asked about his players' performances in front of goal in training, admitted: "We have the same problems. We don't shoot enough and when we shoot, it's the goalkeeper who makes the save. We are too close to finishing. It's not a lack of confidence, we just have to progress."

"We lack triggers", said Frédéric Bompard again. With Abdoulaye Sané, Nîmes has one, all the same. The Senegalese striker has scored two goals (two headers) in four appearances and less than a hundred minutes (99) spent on the pitch. The problem is that he is far from being at his best physically. "He was bothered by injuries (hamstrings then ankle) and he doesn’not have an hour in his legs, that’s the reason why I am not starting him", explained the Nîmes coach, who may have to resolve to bring experience, weight and efficiency to his attack.

21 points already lost at home

Friday, Nîmes did not win, Nîmes lost two more points at home (21 since the start of the season, 10th record) but Nîmes did not lose, it&rsquo ;is what most players wanted to remember.
"This point advances the counter. Defeat would have been a real headache. We showed that we had mentality. Three or four months ago, we wouldn't have come back,” insisted Mathis Picouleau. "As before Villefranche and Cholet, we showed that we didn't give up, that mentally, we responded", underlined Axel Thoumin for his part.

"Coming back to the score as we did, it’is not trivial"

"Coming back to the score as we did, it’s not trivial, added Formose Mendy. We miss, we miss, we miss and we concede a goal… We could have given up and given up, but no, we held on. The group held together and those who entered made the difference, which shows that everyone is in this together and pulling in the same direction."

Go get points outside

These points lost to the Antonins, we will have to make up for them away where the Crocos will play five of their last eight matches… Not easy with the 13th record only away (2 wins, 4 draws, 6 defeats). "By relying on performances like the one in front of Marignane-Gignac, it will go well", Picouleau dared to believe. Who did not forget to specify: "We will have to be efficient and score." Essential if Nîmes Olympique wants to reach… the goal, still far away for the moment.

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