Pochettino gets off to underwhelming start at PSG with Saint-Etienne draw.

Staff Reporter.

Mauricio Pochettino’s first game in charge of Paris St-Germain did not go according to plan as the champions lost ground on leaders Lyon with a draw at Saint-Etienne.

Romain Hamouma tapped in the opener after Idrissa Gueye lost possession on the edge of of the PSG area.

Moise Kean equalised three minutes later when he swivelled and fired home from close range.

PSG are now second, three points behind Lyon, who beat Lens 3-2 earlier.

Pochettino’s side leapfrogged Lille on goal difference after Christophe Galtier’s men suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Angers.

On the other hand, Saint-Etienne, looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches, tested visiting goalkeeper Keylor Navas with strikes from Mathieu Debuchy and Denis Bouanga.

Home goalkeeper Jessy Moulin pulled off a good save to deny Argentine winger Angel di Maria and PSG substitute Pablo Sarabia fired over from close range in stoppage time.

“It was a difficult game. We need to keep working. I’m not looking for excuses, we need to improve the way we play and to improve our performances,” said Pochettino.

“We are PSG, we must win. I arrived three days ago but I’m happy with the way the players tried to apply what we worked on during practice.”

Elsewhere, former France coach Raymond Domenech returned to the bench with Nantes, 10 years after Les Bleus were knocked out of the 2010 World Cup first round in embarrassing fashion, with the Canaries held to a 0-0 home draw against fourth-placed Stade Rennes.

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