Metz have kept alive their hopes of survival having held fellow strugglers Reims to a 0-0 draw at the Stade Auguste Delaune this evening.

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Les Grenats are still without a win since the start of November, but this battling performance takes them to within six points of safety in Ligue 1.

The first chance of the contest fell the way of Gaetan Charbonnier, who failed to convert his attempt from all of six yards out.

Nicolas de Preville had himself come close with an early chance, and if not for a save on the line he would have bagged a goal at the end of a tight opening 45 minutes.

Reims, who remain just four points clear of their opponents at the bottom end of the table, continued to press for a breakthrough, and they nearly found it when Aissa Mandi connected with a volley which flew narrowly over the bar.

It proved to be a disappointing evening for Jean-Luc Vasseur's charges, however, as the league's bottom two sides in terms of current form played out a stalemate.