High-flying Valenciennes continued their fine home form with a convincing victory over lowly Auxerre.
Steve Savidan opened the scoring from the spot before Eric Chelle doubled their lead, leaving Johan Audel to wrap up the hosts´ seventh home win of the season.
The convincing triumph puts the northerners in a strong position to fight for a European slot but leaves Auxerre fourth from bottom and just a point clear of the drop zone.
Valenciennes hit the visitors on a counter attack in the third minute and Savidan collected a loose ball but the striker was denied by Auxerre goalkeeper Olivier Sorin´s fine save.
But Stephane Grichting then handled in the box in the 13th minute and Savidan stepped up and fooled Sorin to find the net.
Ireneusz Jelen had the chance to level to score in the 23rd minute but Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau was quickly down to save the Polish striker´s low snap shot.
Valenciennes made it two on the half-hour mark when Djamel Belmadi´s free-kick found Chelle unmarked in the box and the defender comfortably headed home to double the visitors´ lead.
Jelen then came close to adding his name to the score sheet with a stunning effort from outside the area but Penneteau was on hand to produce a fine reflex save.
The hosts, who remain undefeated at home this season, put the game beyond doubt with 10 minutes remaining when Geoffrey Doumeng´s superb pass sent Audel through on goal to slot home past the despairing Sorin.
Valenciennes continued to press and substitute Gregory Pujol´s lob only just went over the bar after he was assisted by a sublime pass from Carlos Sanchez Moreno.
