There is no fire yet, but an unpleasant smell of burning is lingering on the club. Unable to win any games in their last six Ligue 1 fixtures, Jardim’s men were dominated by Saint-Etienne Sunday afternoon (3-2). With the defeat, ASM will remain on the hot seat until the end of the season.<\/p>\n
Led by the Lopes-Golovin-Gelson Martins-Falcao quartet, the Monegasques nevertheless delivered a good first half against the disinterested Greens of Saint-Etienne, who came into the match on a six-game win streak. Moving well in the opponent’s half, Gelson Martins dispatched a splendid shot into the back of the net (18′). The players of Jean-Louis Gasset then came close to going down by two twice, first with a near-miss from Golovin (21′) then on a Sabila head against his own goal (38′).<\/p>\n
Bad winds have blown through the Rock all season. Because Glick’s shot that glanced off the post in the 55th minute would mark the turning point of the match. In this case, it came in the form of a completely failed Ballo-Toure intervention, who, on an unthreatening center from Cabella, diverted the ball into his own net and allowed St. Etienne to equalize (60′). Faced with a Monegasque side that was visibly shaken, Cabella then dispatched a clean volley (71′) that left keeper Seydou Sy no chance to parry. Nordin scored (80′) the third Green goal in a game where everyone already knew what the outcome would be. Vinicius’ stoppage-time goal (92′) did not change a thing.<\/p>\n
For Monaco, a team in full stagnation, the situation has again turned bleak. The scenario that some considered an afterthought just a few weeks ago is now a concrete reality. While the house is not yet on fire, Monaco, just three small points ahead of Caen, Leonardo Jardim’s will have to fight to the very end to save their skin in League 1 football.<\/p>\n