The end of a miserable campaign can not come soon enough for Metz, who continue to be kicked even though they are already down.

Rock bottom of the standings and with relegation assured, Metz looked as though they might at least pick up a rare win on Saturday after taking a 22nd-minute lead against Nice thanks to a goal from Laurent Agouazzi.

But even that small consolation eluded Joel Muller's team as second-half goals from Sammy Traore and David Bellion consigned the visitors to their 21st defeat of the season.

As if their dismal league predicament was not bad enough, Muller, who is set to leave his post in the summer, had to deal with seven absentees coming into the match.

That situation did not seem to hampering Metz that much though as they still managed to take the lead when Agouazzi headed home at the front post following a corner from Ludovic Obraniak.

Metz also managed to keep that advantage until the break, although it needed a good save from visiting goalkeeper Christopher Marichez to keep out a great shot from Bakari Kone on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors' good fortune was about to run out though and two goals in an eight-minute spell soon after the interval turned the game on its head and put Nice in charge.

The equalising goal, which came in the 57th minute, was a powerful header from Traore and Bellion then put Nice ahead after latching onto a Rod Fanni cross at the far post.

Those goals came in the middle of an inspired spell for Nice which also saw Kone and Florent Balmont go close, the latter seeing a superb effort tipped around the post by Marichez.

There were no more additions to the scoreline though and Metz were consigned to yet another defeat in a season few will remember fondly at the Stade Saint Symphorien.