Sochaux boosted their chances of survival with a stunning victory over high-flying Rennes which saw them leap up three places in the Ligue 1 table.

Ryad Boudebouz set the hosts on their way to victory with a penalty in the 35th minute and Mevlud Erding doubled their lead two minutes later before substitute Vaclav Sverkos capped a great day for Sochaux late on.

Sochaux move up to 14th in the table while Rennes remain in seventh but are 11 points behind leaders Lyon.

The impressive result will go some way to atone for a tough week for the hosts who saw captain Stephane Dalmat charged with assaulting a police officer during a night out in Paris last Sunday.

The hosts started brightly and thought they had taken the lead in the ninth minute as Erding's shot crashed back off the crossbar to Romain Pitau who headed it home, but he was adjudged to have been offside.

Rennes, without Jimmy Briand for the rest of the season after the striker ruptured knee ligaments while training with France, struggled to create anything and shot themselves in the foot when Stephane M'bia pulled Jacques Faty's shirt in the area and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Boudebouz stepped up and sent Nicolas Douchez the wrong way to fire Sochaux into the lead.

Worse was to come for Rennes as just two minute later Erding beat defenders Rod Fanni and Petter Hansson before firing powerfully home through Douchez's legs.

The outcome might have been different if, six minutes after the interval, Jerome Leroy had not fired straight at Sochaux goalkeeper Teddy Richert from 12 yards.

Rennes dominated for most of the second half and should have got one back but could not take the most of their opportunities.

The hosts sealed the game three minutes from time when Sverkos, who had come on for Erding two minutes earlier, latched onto Boudebouz's cross and beat a static Douchez.