Rennes continued their unbeaten run at home this season as they defeated Toulouse by a single goal at Roazhon Park.

The hosts were in front after just 42 seconds when Yoann Gourcuff slid a neatly placed shot past youngster Alban Lafont. 

Rennes controlled most of the chances in the game, however, Toulouse let too many of their own pass them by.

Unfortunately for Pascal Dupraz's side, they went down to 10 men late in the game when Christopher Jullien was sent off.

Rennes welcomed back Paul-Georges Ntep and Sanjin Prcic to the starting 11 while Toulouse remained largely unchanged for their trip to the north-west. 

Early and definitive is the key for Rennes 

The seats in a freezing cold Roazhon Park hadn't even heated up when Gourcuff put his side in front in under a minute.

Without a Toulouse jersey touching the ball from kick-off, the hosts managed a menacing passing move ending with Ntep feeding the scorer through to hit in.

Ntep was lively throughout the first half, both as an orchestrator and a striking option, but a first goal of the season eluded him.

Without a shot on target in the first half, Toulouse found it difficult to pose many problems - even with ex-Rennes striker Ola Toivonen up top with highly rated Martin Braithwaite.

After hitting the post five minutes before the end of the first half, Rennes went in at the break ahead and on form.

Toulouse do better but blow it in the end

A rejuvenated Toulouse entered the fray much better than the previous period and looked set on levelling the game but couldn't find the ideal opportunity to do so. 

The first big chance of the half was to fall at the other end, predictably, with Ntep who bore down on goal, forcing Lafont into an excellent save.

Another player looking for his first goal in Rennes colours was young centre-back Joris Gnagnon who had his face in his hands after his header hit off the underside of the crossbar and down onto the line. 

The best opportunity for Toulouse came through Jullien when his header following a free kick made Costil work to parry it away from danger.

The dominating young centre-back made a terrible decision into added time when he lashed out at Rennes substitute Pedro Henrique. 

The Parisian received his first red card in his career and sulked off the field gutted at his actions only minute previous. 

The win for Rennes momentarily puts them in fourth place in Ligue 1, while Toulouse are stuck on eighth - five points adrift of their Breton opponents. 

Dupraz's men host Montpellier in their next fixture while Rennes contend another Brittany Derby, this time against FC Lorient.