In a sold-out Paul-Lignon, Rodez supporters celebrated their team’s third consecutive maintenance in Ligue 2, winner of Caen (2-0) on Saturday, during the 38th and last day of the championship.
Radiant faces, sunny weather with 27 degrees on the thermometer, and a wind of optimism was blowing rue Vieussens from 5 p.m. on Saturday. When, 120 minutes from kick-off, the Ruthenian kop partly escorted the Raf pro group to Paul-Lignon, who had just concluded their greening with a pre-match chat organized in a hotel downtown.
Players accompanied by songs, drumbeats, smiles, but above all a great relief. “We’re doing this to thank them for giving Rodez a fourth season in a row in Ligue 2 because we’ve come from very, very far,” recalled Patrice, a member of the supporters’ group.
Maintained, the blood and gold were not yet maintained at that time. Even if to see Quevilly overtake them on the gong and condemn them to play the survival barrage in Ligue 2, it would have taken, it’s true, a completely improbable scenario. Like for example a 0-3 defeat against Caen, Saturday evening, and a 5-0 success for the Quevillais against Dunkirk, penultimate and already relegated to National, at the same time.
Enough to encourage some fans of the Piton team to be cautious before the last of the season at home. Like Serge Binel: “The Dunkirks have conceded a lot of goals lately, so if we don’t do the job at home…”
Caen supporters: “Without a stake, we are not here to hurt you”
Especially since a barrage against Villefranche Beaujolais, third in the National, would not have been a gift. “Last year, it was still a team that beat Niort in the first leg (3-1), before seeing the rise escape them in the last minutes of the return (2-0). »
“From Nancy (1-1, April 19), I told myself that we were going to have to face them and it would have been hard because they would surely have been in a much better dynamic than us, added Ludovic Pradels, came from Valence-d’Albigeois with his daughter Julia, six years old. But that won’t happen. Because tonight, we will beat the Caennais 1-0. (to smile) “
Not far from there, Romain, another Raf aficionado, was sleeping in an ultra Norman who had made the trip with the 40 present in the visitor parking lot: “You leave that one with us, huh! “Reference to the heavy defeat (4-0) suffered in Calvados on July 24, at the start of the season. “It should do it, don’t worry!” replied the Weedsman, laughing.
Two other blue and red supporters, Raphaël and Maria, who had traveled from Figeac, abounded: “Rodez will give everything. We, like our players, are on vacation, so no problem, we are not here to hurt you. (to smile) “
We quickly saw it and Rodez was able to take advantage of it to end the season with a third victory in a row (2-0). The icing on an already copious cake: sold-out match, stands painted blood and gold thanks to the leaves held up by the 1,667 spectators at the entrance of the 22 players, good-natured atmosphere, celebrations of the Ruthenian players with the public at the Outcome of the game… Saturday was a party night. An evening of maintenance.
–
