Auxerre moved level on points with fourth-placed Montpellier after a narrow win over their Ligue 1 rivals tonight.

A first-half brace from Ireneusz Jelen put the hosts in control and their position was further strengthened when Montpellier's Alberto Costa was sent off in the 74th minute.

The visitors still managed to snatch a last-gasp goal from Nenad Dzodic but it was too little, too late.

Montpellier began brightly and had the first chance when Olivier Sorin had to make a smart save from Costa in the ninth minute.

But Auxerre soon took control. Kamel Chafni had just seen a volley from 25 yards fly narrowly wide when the first goal came after 15 minutes.

Aurelien Capoue cut in from the left but saw his shot saved by Geoffrey Jourdren, allowing Jelen to sweep home the rebound.

Montpellier might have been level in the 25th minute but Jean-Pascal Mignot cleared Phillipe Delaye's effort off the line after Sorin had saved from Victor Hugo Montano.

And Auxerre doubled their lead in the 28th minute.

Dariusz Dudka whipped in a fine cross from the right and Jelen was left with a simple finish to prod the ball beyond the goalkeeper.

Jelen might have had a hat-trick before half-time but Jourdren kept out his close-range effort.

Montpellier continued to fight after the break but Costa saw his 58th-minute header crash back off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Sorin then had to make an excellent save from a fierce Joris Marveaux shot, blocking after Montana's free-kick had struck the wall.

Auxerre launched a swift counter-attack but Dennis Oliech's shot struck the crossbar.

Costa then earned a second yellow card and Montpellier's challenge was all but over.

But they still grabbed a late goal when Romain Pitau crossed for Dzodic to nod past Sorin in the 90th minute.