26.09.2014 09:10 h

Van Wolfswinkel ends goal drought as Saint Etienne held

Ricky van Wolfswinkel ended his year-long goal drought but Saint Etienne were held 1-1 at home by Bordeaux on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Dutch striker, an expensive flop at Norwich in the English Premier League last season, struck in the 31st minute, volleying home Franck Tabanou's cross from the left.

In only his second start in France since his loan move, van Wolfswinkel equalled his tally from 27 games for Norwich following his club record 10 million euro move from Sporting Lisbon.

His only strike there came on the opening day of the season, in August last year, against Everton, but his failure to weigh in with goals proved a significant factor in the East Anglian club's relegation.

However, against the run of play, Bordeaux were back on terms eight minutes later when Tiago Ilori headed home from close range after a scrambled move which saw Nicolas Pallois make a mess of a half-volley before Ilori came to the rescue.

The home side's appeals for offside were waved away as they had two defenders on the line as Ilori got to the ball.

The result was enough for both sides to narrow the gap on early leaders Marseille to two points ahead of the weekend's fixtures, when Bordeaux entertain Rennes and Saint Etienne travel to Marseille in a top-of-the-table clash.