Three second-half goals gave Valenciennes a deserved and ultimately comfortable victory over Rennes to take them within a point of the European places in Ligue 1.

The visitors had to wait almost an hour to break the deadlock through Bobo Balde, before Fahid Ben Khalfallah's solo effort and a disputed late goal from Gregory Pujol sealed victory.

Rennes had the first chance through Asamoah Gyan after Milan Bisevac gifted the ball to Junichi Inamoto but the Ghana forward was denied by keeper Guy Rolland Ndy Assembe.

Ben Khalfallah teed up Bisevac to volley just wide for Valenciennes soon afterwards before Rennes' Jires Kembo-Ekoko's solo run ended with a drive against the crossbar from 18 yards.

Remi Gomis created a chance from which Ben Khalfallah shot over three minutes before the end of a goalless first half.

Valenciennes stepped up the pressure after the break and Pujol's volley forced a stunning save from keeper Nicolas Douchez before Balde broke the deadlock.

Ben Khalfallah's free-kick picked out the giant ex-Celtic defender and he headed powerfully past Douchez from six yards.

And Ben Khalfallah had even better in store as he ran from his own half, beating Carlos Bocanegra and Bruno Cheyrou before sending a fierce, left-footed drive arrowing past Douchez from the edge of the box.

Ndy Assembe denied Kembo-Ekoko before the visitors put the game to bed in controversial fashion. Pujol went past Bocanegra and his shot hit the bar, bounced down on the goalline and up onto the woodwork again.

But referee Pascal Vileo awarded the goal, to the anger of Douchez.