Saint-Etienne have defeated Sochaux 2-1 away from home in Ligue 1.

The hosts crafted the first chance of the game as early as the sixth minute when Sebastien Corchia put in a cross that Sloan Privat headed wide.

However, Saint-Etienne soon began to assert their dominance on the contest, Brandao watching his shot from the centre of Sochaux penalty box saved.

Midway through the first half the visitors made the breakthrough, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang latching on to Francois Clerc's pass to shoot home from the right side of the box.

Aubameyang could have doubled his tally on 36 minutes had Simon Pouplin not been able to keep his effort out.

Saint-Etienne continued to dominate proceedings at Stade Auguste-Bonal in the second half, as Jonathan Brison and Josua Guilavogui had good chances.

However, Edouard Butin equalised in the 72nd minute when he received Privat's through-ball and slotted home with ease.

Fabien Lemoine, though, put Saint-Etienne back in the lead just five minutes later with a shot taken from outside the box.

The visitors could have secured a 3-1 win had Aubameyang not failed to successfully convert his penalty on 81 minutes that Roudet conceded due to a handball offence.