Nice pulled further away from the bottom three in Ligue 1 with a valuable win at home to fellow strugglers Le Mans on Sunday.

The Mediterranean club seemingly put their bad start behind them with victory over Lyon last weekend - but they had to scrap for the points, despite the 16th-minute dismissal of Le Mans' Camilo Antonio Geder.

The only goal of the game came five minutes before the break from Ismael Gace, but the hosts failed to press home their numerical advantage.

Loic Remy found himself clear on the right side of the area in only the second minute, and his snapshot was well kept out by Didier Ovono.

Nice threatened again 10 minutes in when David Hellebuyck beat three defenders before letting fly from the edge of the area - but he could not beat Ovono.

Le Mans' chances were then dealt a serious blow as Geder saw red for elbowing Mamadou Bagayoko.

The visitors had failed to create a decent opening throughout the opening half - and it was Nice who continued to push forward, Remy heading Julien Sable's free-kick narrowly over the bar.

The breakthrough came after Ovono flapped at a corner, and Gace had the simple task of nodding the ball in when it was chipped back in.

Le Mans nearly equalised in the 53rd minute, but Thorstein Helstad's volley from the centre of the area dropped just the wrong side of the bar.

Bagayoko then drew a brilliant save from Ovono with a bullet header, after Drissa Diakite had beaten the full-back on the right and swung in a dangerous cross.

Nice goalkeeper David Ospina was tested for the first time by Rolland Lamah 12 minutes from time.

At the other end, Anthony Mounier showed impressive touch to chest the ball down and volley goalwards - but again the effort was just off target.