AS Saint-Étienne 1-4 AS Monaco

THE MATCH

Monaco had a chance to take the lead early on when Volland sprung Saint-Étienne's offside trap and let fly. His shot was parried into Gelson Martins' path, but the Portuguese failed to sort his feet out and the ball sailed harmlessly over Paul Bernardoni's crossbar (3'). Denis Bounga then tested Alex Nubel at the other end, but his shot, as powerful as it was, never really tested the Bayern Munich-owned 'keeper (19'). Monaco took the lead minutes later, Aurélien Tchouaméni slipping a brilliant pass into Caio Henrique who cut back to leave Ben Yedder with a tap-in for his 20th goal of the season (23'). Minutes later it was two. This time the danger came from the other side, Martins squaring for Volland, but the result was the same, Bernardoni left with no chance from close range (25'). The goalscorers rather got in each other ways when Henrique created another chance just past the half hour (31'), and Sainté punished their profligacy when Wahbi Khazri converted a penalty that Mahdi Camara had earned from Tchouaméni (42').

Monaco pull away

Philippe Clement sent Boadu and Ismail Jakobs on for Ben Yedder and Alexander Golovin just inside the hour (59'), and the new men combined for Monaco's third goal soon after. Boadu slipped Jakobs through down the left and his cross - intended for an offside Volland - was turned into the Sainté goal by centre-back Timothée Kolodziejczak (61'). Tha match was interrupted due to flares in the 40,000-strong Geoffroy-Guichard crowd, but when play resumed on the hour it flowed in the same direction, with Monaco in the ascendancy and Boadu unlucky to hit the post from a tight angle (68'). Volland and Boadu then missed gilt-edge chances in quick succession (70'), but Boadu belatedly got his name on the scoresheet when he slid home from a low Jakobs cross (77'). Monaco closed out the win from there - one that moves them above RC Strasbourg and Stade Rennais FC overnight.

THE PLAYER: Aurélien Tchouaméni

He may have conceded the penalty, but this was an otherwise superlative display from Tchouaméni, who repeatedly played the pass before the pass which led to the goal. Linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs this season, UEFA Champions League football next term might help persuade him to stay in the principality for another year at least.

THE STAT: 6

Monaco have won each of their last six matches in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, not tasting defeat since their narrow 1-0 loss to Strasbourg in Round 28. Some eyebrows were raised when the club parted company with Niko Kovac in December, but his successor as coach Clement continues to vindicate that decision.