Bastia – Troyes. Mark O’Haire’s prediction (VIDEO)

Prompted by a lack of results and reported discord within the squad, Bastia opted to sack coach Ghislain Printant last midweek and install assistant boss François Ciccolini as interim boss to help beat the drop.

Printant lasted a year in charge and had a good tenure. He avoided relegation comfortably and even took the club to the final of the Coupe de la Ligue.

Sitting three points above the drop zone before his dismissal, the decision looked harsh.

With or without Printant, Bastia have been as predictable as death and taxes in recent years. The Turchini have always been rock solid at their Stade Armand Cesar home but picking up results on the road has proven nigh-on impossible.

Since returning to Ligue 1, Bastia have won 35/69 (51%) of their home fixtures despite never finishing higher than 10th in those three previous campaigns. This season they’ve bagged W8-D0-L4 with three of those losses coming against the top-three – PSG, Monaco and Nice – as they’ve shutout seven of their 12 guests.

On the flip side, the Turchini have lost 40/68 (59%) away matches. And this trend has continued in Ciccolini’s first two outings. Bastia put in a brave performance to beat Lyon 1-in Corsica last weekend before suffering their standard travelling woes when losing 2-0 at Monaco on Tuesday night.

On Saturday evening, they welcome rock-bottom Troyes and at 1.85, the home side look outstanding value, especially with captain Yannick Cahuzac back from suspension.

Newly-promoted Troyes lost highly promising France U19 international goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni to Bordeaux and mobile striker Jimmy Cabot to Lorient at the conclusion on the transfer window and the club are preparing for life back in Ligue 2 already.

ESTAC have won once all season, lost eight of their 11 away trips, failing to score in five, and accumulated a disastrously bad -22 goal difference on their travels. Bastia should be more than good enough to bank maximum points.