Montpellier continued their encouraging season in Ligue 1 with a 1-1 draw away to Valenciennes.

The newly-promoted side began the day fourth in the table and ended a run of two straight defeats with the point.

Rene Girard's side took the lead with just two minutes gone, but Carlos Sanchez equalised for the home side early in the second half.

Emir Spahic was sent off two minutes from time for a second bookable offence, but Montpellier held on for the draw.

The visitors had opened the scoring from the game's first real attack, Karim Ait Fana producing a superb cross from the left for Victor Hugo Montano to head past Guy Rolland Ndy Assembe.

It could have been 2-0 on 17 minutes when Spahic struck a thunderous shot which Assembe somehow tipped on to the bar.

Montpellier were creating all of the best chances in the opening half, and Ait Fana tried his luck from long range with a shot which flew just over the bar.

Valenciennes finally threatened in the first minute of the second period, but goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren punched away Siaka Tiene's shot.

But the home fans did not have to wait long for the equaliser as Sanchez made it 1-1 after 51 minutes.

Renaud Cohade's speculative long-range effort came back off the post and left Sanchez with a simple task to tap in from close range.

Both sides struggled to create any clear chances from then on, substitute Jacques Abardonado firing wide on 69 minutes after Fahid Ben Khalfallah's free-kick came back off the wall.