Marseille have moved up to second in Ligue 1 with a 2-1 victory over Brest away from home.

The win at Stade Francis-Le Ble means that Elie Baup's side are now just two points behind league leaders Lyon.

© PA Photos

L'OM were always in control of the match and could have pulled ahead as early as the seventh minute when Souleymane Diawara's header went just wide.

Four minutes later Morgan Amalfitano saw his header from close range saved by Alexis Thebaux in the Brest goal, before Mathieu Valbuena shot wide from outside the box.

Marseille had another chance to go ahead in the 15th minute, but Andre Ayew failed to keep his left-footed attempt from distance on target.

Joey Barton then tried his luck after collecting a Valbuena free kick, but his shot was too high to trouble Thebaux.

The visitors eventually broke the deadlock and the goal came in the 34th minute when Diawara latched on to Barton's delivery and shot home from close range.

Amalfitano and Valbuena both came close in the following two minutes to double Marseille's advantage, but were denied by Thebaux.

Then in the 42nd minute Brest equalised much against the run of play, when Charlison Benschop headed home a corner.

That did not rattle Marseille, though, as the former French champions continued to play their usual game in the second half, with Barton testing Thebaux in the opening minutes.

Marseille regained their lead on 56 minutes when a quick attacking move saw the Englishman tee up Ayew for an easy finish from close range.

The Ligue 1 title contenders had chances to increase their advantage during the remainder of the match, with Jordan Ayew and Barton both going close, but it eventually ended 2-1 to the visitors.