Marseille's miserable start to the season continued on Saturday as Toulouse inflicted a 2-1 defeat on the hosts at the Stade Velodrome.

Achille Emana opened the scoring for Elie Baup's Toulouse early in the first half while Johan Elmander doubled the visitors' lead before the break.

The second half was marred by two red cards as first Julien Rodriguez was dismissed for OM and then Toulouse's Herita Ilunga received his marching orders for a second booking.

Ronald Zubar pulled a goal back for Marseille at the death but there was no time to force the equaliser.

Albert Emon's troops were tipped as likely title challengers during pre-season, but a run of just one win in eight games at the start of the campaign has all but extinguished any early optimism among the OM faithful.

Toulouse, eager to improve on last season's third-placed finish but so far struggling to make an impact this term, were quickly into their stride and took the lead after 10 minutes.

Laurent Batlles' quick free-kick found Emana, who played a neat one-two with Elmander on the edge of the box before bursting into the area and coolly slotting the ball past the advancing Steve Mandanda.

The hosts then began to boss the play, however, and on 32 minutes Samir Nasri's mazy run and shot was punched clear by Toulouse goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez, while moments later the young hitman fired just over from long range.

Just as it looked that OM would soon be on level terms, Toulouse delivered the sucker punch on 37 minutes.

Elmander's free-kick was charged down by the wall, but Nasri picked up on the loose ball to present Elmander with another chance, and this time the Swede picked his spot with a flashing drive across the face of Mandanda and into the far corner.

Mandanda denied Toulouse a third with a fine save from Emana on the hour mark, but moments later OM's task was made even tougher when Rodriguez received a straight red for swinging an elbow at Fode Mansare.

Toulouse then looked to make on their numerical advantage by laying siege to the Marseille goal, but they were soon down to 10 men themselves when Ilunga picked up his second yellow card of the game on 74 minutes.

Andre-Pierre Gignac almost made it three when his shot hit the framework of the Marseille goal, but it was the hosts who completed the scoring with a late consolation.

Karim Ziani's corner was spilled by Douchez in front of goal, and Zubar had the simplest of tasks to thump the ball into the roof of the net.