Monaco moved provisionally into second place in Ligue 1 with a 1-0 win over Saint-Etienne on Sunday thanks to a second-half Fabinho penalty.

The Brazilian international netted from the spot eight minutes from time to settle a dour game in the principality club's favour and lift them into second ahead of Sunday's other games.

Monaco were eager to bounce back from a 4-1 hiding away to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday that saw them eliminated from the Europa League.

Leonardo Jardim's men are now unbeaten in five Ligue 1 games and move above Caen and Angers, although the latter can reclaim second when they host Bordeaux later.

Monaco are also 14 points behind runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who defend their unbeaten domestic record this season when they host Lyon on Sunday evening.

Jardim made a notable change in goal, leaving out Croatian international Danijel Subasic and handing a debut to France under-21 prospect Paul Nardi, but the latter hardly had a save to make at the Stade Louis II.

Helder Costa struck the bar for the hosts in the first half before Saint-Etienne felt they should have had a penalty when Ricardo Carvalho grappled with Loic Perrin in the box.

The visitors then had full-back Kevin Malcuit sent off for a second yellow card in the second half and Pierre-Yves Polomat was penalised for a handball in the box with time running out.

Fabinho made no mistake from 12 yards to condemn Saint-Etienne to an eighth league defeat already this season.

Sunday's other game sees Marseille host Gazelec Ajaccio looking for a win that could lift them into the top six.