Nantes held in Metz stalemate

Lowly Metz stopped Nantes' two-match winning Ligue 1 run as they recorded a goalless draw at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday.Metz had lost six of their previous seven league games but they showed resilience to keep only their second clean sheet since mid-October and move out of the relegation zone at Evian's expense.Nantes came into the game on the back of league wins against Bordeaux and Lorient and had the game's first chance when Issa Cissokho released Alejandro Bedoya down the right before Yacine Bammou headed his cross inches over the crossbar.Bammou brushed the post with a header moments later and Metz did not emerge as an attacking force until Yeni N'Gbatoko's corner found its way to Gaetan Bussmann, who could only find the side netting.Nantes continued to dominate and Bedoya freed Ismael Bangoura for a first-half angled shot which was well saved by Johann Carrasso in the Metz goal.Carrasso had to be alert again to stop Jordan Veretout's free-kick and Nantes came close to an opener when Georges-Kevin N'Koudou laid the ball off to Bedoya and his 25-yard effort flew inches wide.But Metz almost won a game of low quality when Bouna Sarr broke forward in the second minute of injury time and sent a violent shot on to the Nantes bar but he failed the break the deadlock as both sides held on for a point.