I want to discuss both the hosts here and Tours later in the email , the pair actually met last week  (Tours 2 Clermont 1) and I suggest you start by looking at those very entertaining highlights.

It was a wide open encounter, Clermont played really well, led 1-0 and should have added a second, before Tours, who were second best, found a way back into the match, even then, it was still Clermont making most of the running, it was an ill tempered affair, which added to the interest and both teams ended with ten men on the pitch.Which means that they are without suspended right back Marvin Esor (17-0-1) this evening, along with left sided midfielder Nicolas Bayod (22-1-3), but they get striker Romain Armand (18-2-0) and defensive midfielder Eugene Ekobo (20-0-0) back and as three of those were missing last week, they are stronger for this vital match, with the hosts only two points above the drop zone.

We spoke about Dijon on Monday ahead of their home match with Monaco ...

"The hosts can move to within two points of an automatic promotion spot with the win, we last spoke of them at the start of the month, ahead of a trip to Le Havre, where we were firmly in the home camp ....

Big game for Le Havre, they are hopeful of getting into the promotion hunt and are "going" for results at present, if they lose the odd match along the way then so be it, but they are no longer so fearful of losing. They collected a hard earned win on that terrible pitch at Ajaccio last week and sit just six points off the promotion places, this is the first (and easiest) of four starts in a row against top seven teams and they will be targeting maximum points today, ahead of a trip to Monaco next week. Holding player Distel Zola (18-1-0) had only been on the pitch for 12 minutes before being sent off last week and will miss out, he is replaced by Drissa Traoré . I don't stew on bad results too long, but still feel angry that Dijon beat Lens on Monday, to say they rode their luck is a massive undertstatement, anyway the quick turnaround from Monday- Friday is tough to overcome in general and they spent a lot of time chasing RCL in that game. Pape Paye (19-0-0) was injured on Monday and is the only squad member from Monday not to travel, already short of offensive options and creating little , a little jaded and missed the protection Paye brings, I like the home win.

They lost that 3-0, but have got back on track with road wins at Sedan and Gazelec, two teams who will be playing third tier football next season. They remain without the "busy" Brice Jovial (15-5-3) up front, have only named two strikers and look to be packing the midfield, centre back William Remy (10-0-1) and left back Cedric Varrault (19-0-0) are also unavailable.

They have only named five defenders and the only two full backs are both just 21 yo, Bamba on the right looks solid, but on the other flank they look very suspect and they will flood the midfield to try and give them protection."

They lost that 2-0, did a lot of running and my oft repeated mantra about how tough the quick turnaround is to overcome in Ligue 2, goes double when the first match is against the best team in the division ! Forget what you might read elsewhere, they do get Brice Jovial (15-5-3) back tonight, which is a plus, but CB Remy and left back Varrault are still out and the problems at the back ( see above) remain. I have not been overly impressed by what I have seen from Dijon recently and if Clermont approach the game like they did their last, they should get a much needed first win in six starts. 1.25 units Clermont -0.5 ball 2.25 asian line/ Ibramarket.
 
Clermont : Farnolle, Fabre - Bockhorni, Perrinelle (cap), Avinel , Imorou, Ekobo, Saïss, Salibur, Lacombe, Capelle, Dembélé, Fomen, Moreira, Armand, Pinau , Bettiol.

Dijon: Reynet, Tchagouni – Cissé, Bamba, Souprayen, Paulle-Bérenguer, Mulumba, Paye, Guerbert, Baradji, Mollet, Philippoteaux – Jovial, Tavares, Koné

Good Luck.