Relegation-threatened Strasbourg are in dire straits after a 1-0 defeat at Nantes on a night where virtually everything went wrong for the Alsatian club.

Not only did Aurelien Capoue's goal secure victory for Les Canaris, who have now reached mathematical safety. But results elsewhere also conspired against Strasbourg with bottom club Ajaccio beating Toulouse and - even worse - fourth-bottom Troyes beating Metz 4-2.

Troyes now have five points on Strasbourg, who also have a very tough run-in with four matches to catch the team from the Champagne region.

Strasbourg started well and Arthur Boka crossed towards Alexander Farnerud, whose first-minute header was saved by Mickael Landreau.

Farnerud then created an opening for Karim Haggui whose header was just wide.

Farnerud then headed an Ahmed Abou Moslem cross goalwards but Landreau saved.

Strasbourg must have felt sick when Nantes took the lead with their first attack after 29 minutes.

Dennis Oliech laid the ball off for Capoue whose first-time shot squeezed inside the post.

Nantes were buoyed by the goal and Olivier Quint had two free-kicks, the first going over the bar and the second finding the head of Mauro Cetto who was also too high.

Early in the second half Landreau did well to parry a Pascal Johansen shot after good work from Farnerud.

Yabo Hosni's long-range effort was poor and nerves began to tell as his team-mates berated his selfishness.

Landreau then saved a Hosni free-kick before Szilard Nemeth fired over after connecting with a Johansen cross.

Landreau was called on again to push away a shot from Farnerud and the custodian was once again equal to the task.

The result must have felt like rough justice to Strasbourg who now have it all to do if they are to stay in the division.