Bordeaux - Un vrai courage à leurs coeurs

Last Sunday a sell out crowd at Parc Lescure witnessed perhaps the turning point when a team thought to be punching above it's weight makes the next step and becomes one of genuine quality. A home game against Lens is alway one of the hardest of the season, in fact last years fixture was won with the only shot on target - and that was from the penalty spot!! The Lensoise are not only a good footballing side, they are backed by some of the loudest fans and most loyal fans in the country with 700 fans made the very long trip south west and making themselves heard all evening.
Any fears that the quality of Lens would mean Bordeaux adopting their game killing tactics were quickly put to when when right from kick off they took the game to the visitors forcing corners, firing in crosses and shots and then in the 11th minute taking the lead thanks to ex Lens striker Jussie. Les Girondins continued to dominate the first half playing with exactly the spirit that was lacking during the early season, indeed it appeared to be only a matter of time before the lead was doubled, would it really be this easy?? Well no...
In the 38th minute David Jemalli got himself sent off for one of those tackles that can only be described as 'Leg-breakers', the sort of tackle that anyone who has a tibia can only watch behind a cushion. Any other team may have gone to pieces but if there is one team in the world that can sit on a one goal lead for nearly an hour then it surely is Bordeaux. Sure enough Ricardo made the changes and Bordeaux went into the withdrawn defensive mode that earlier in the season would bring wistles of discontent from Virage Sud, no heckles this time though as Les Girondins put in a solid display of bravery and maturity to hold on an record a victory that not only put them into pole position in the race for second, but a victory that will be long, long remembered by the 32377 people in attendance.