France, March 1 -- Lille fluffed their chance to restore their four point lead at the top of Ligue 1 on Sunday following a 1-1 draw at home with relegation-threatened Strasbourg.

The visitors, lying 16th in table and only five points above the drop zone,went into the clash at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on the back of a 2-1 win at Metz and a 0-0 draw at Angers last weekend.

They belied their lowly status in the Ligue 1 food chain with doughty defending and occasional moments of incision.

Their opener in the 36th minute was the epitome of simplicity. Frederic Guilbert raced down the right, crossed and Ludovic Ajorque guided the ball past Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

Lille, beaten 2-1 on Thursday night at Ajax to crash out of the Europa L...