Saint-Etienne game delayed as fans throw flares on pitch in protest against Claude Puel

Saint-Etienne fans' protests have levelled up

Saint-Etienne's Ligue 1 fixture against Angers was delayed due to fan protests against manager Claude Puel on Friday night, with flares thrown onto the pitch before kick-off. Les Verts - who are bottom of the league without a win all season - knew that failure to win against Angers would equal their worst-ever Ligue 1 winless run of 13 games, recorded between July and September 1988. The 10-time French Champions have endured a horrific start to the campaign, with former Leicester boss Puel under immense pressure. Puel - who has been in charge of the French side since October 2019 - has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks, exacerbated by the 5-1 loss at Strasbourg on Sunday. Understandably, Saint-Etienne supporters are frustrated with the boss and the performances of his side, with some of those in attendance at the Geoffroy Stadium taking matters into their own hands by staging a protest prior to kick-off against Angers. A significant number of flares were launched onto the pitch, causing referee Antony Gautier to delay the start of the tie until the pitch could be safely cleared. https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1451633390407622660 Whilst it isn't the first time that Saint-Etienne fans have protested against the Frenchman, it is certainly the most violent one so far. Many supporters have taken to social media to express their displeasure at the style of play the manager opts for. Other fans have called calling for Puel's sacking, with a group of Les Verts fans creating a banner which reads: "We’ll give you 24 hours to resign..." Prior to their game against 'The Black and Whites, Puel had taken charge of 81 matches as Saint-Etienne boss, winning 24, drawing 21 and losing 36. Related links:

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