Nîmes Olympique: the “scandal” denounced by Bompard, the cursed posts, the premiere of Laurens, the last echoes of the Crocos

Mahamadou Doucouré, who tried to escape Ali Bamba, the captain of Marignane-Gignac, fought but once again showed a lot of clumsiness. Midi Free – ALEXIS BETHUNE

The crocodile coach did not appreciate that his attacker Mahamadou Doucouré came out under the whistles, Friday evening, during the reception of Marignane-Gignac (1-1).

Doucouré hissed, "it’s scandalous !"

Replaced in the 67th minute by Abdoulaye Sané, Friday March 22, during the reception of Marignane-Gignac (1-1), Mahamadou Doucouré was whistled as he left the field by the Antonins spectators (1  ;nbsp;170 people, 4th attendance of the season). Caught in his match, Frédéric Bompard claims not to have heard the whistles but he wanted to (strongly) react.

"It’s scandalous ! We have so much to do with people who don't understand anything about football in stadiums, what do you want me to tell you… hellip? For me, it’s my job, I’ve been in the business for over 50 years, so people don’t come and explain football to me when we sit down in the stands of the Antonins and we know absolutely nothing about it, said the Nîmes coach. It’s a scandal. Me, I defend my players. Mamad, he gave a lot this evening (Friday), he ran a lot, he defended, he did things technically interesting. He was not happy with his volley at the start of the second half, which hit the bar. And you (the spectators) allow yourself to whistle at him, you don't understand anything!"

Good player, it’s insufficient

Like Mbemba, Doucouré symbolized the ineffectiveness of the Crocos on Friday. The 23-year-old striker, who had not started for five games, was like his season: clumsy and not always inspired in his choices. Too inconsistent and still too often injured, the former Strasbourg player, who was coming off an almost blank season (48 minutes of play in 2022-2023), did not manage to become the spearhead of the Nîmes attack.

In 14 appearances in the Championship including 9 as a starter, Doucouré has only scored two goals, both from the penalty spot at the Antonins, ahead of Châteauroux (2-2, 5th day) and Orléans (2- 3, 14th day). An insufficient balance sheet for an element which will be at the end of the contract in June.

First goal scored in added time

Nîmes scored its first goal of the season in added time on Friday in front of Marignane-Gignac. Long silent in the last quarter of an hour, the Croco team, in recent weeks, has rectified the situation, since it is now at six goals scored after the 75th minute, i.e. 23; % of total. But it has not yet reversed the trend, since 13 goals were conceded during this same period (including 4 in added time), or 37% of the total.

Amounts still affected

The post for Picouleau, the cross for Doucouré. The Crocos hit the woods twice on Friday in front of Marignane-Gignac. Since the start of the season, opposing teams have rejected ten of their attempts. The Crocs have also been saved 10 times by their posts.

A first for Gauthier Laurens

Gauthier Laurens, who had not played since the trip to Le Mans (0-0, 19th day), delivered his first assist in the Championship on Friday (3 goals, 1 assist in the Coupe de France ). This is the 11th Croco to join this ranking dominated by Diallo (3 assists).

No warning for Crocs

For the third time this season after Châteauroux (21st day) and Villefranche (22nd day), no Croco was warned on Friday by Mr. Djedid, who led Nîmes for the second time during of this 2023-2024 financial year. Nîmes occupies 10th place in the fair play ranking. In Dijon next Friday, Diallo will still be missing who will serve the second of his three match suspension imposed after his expulsion in front of Cholet.

The end of season schedule

By the end of the season, Nîmes will travel five times: to Dijon (7th), Épinal (17th), Orléans (8th), Goal FC (14th) and Martigues (3rd). And will only receive three times: Versailles (10th), Red Star (1st) and Sochaux (9th).

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