RC Lens 1-0 ESTAC Troyes

THE MATCH

Lens welcomed Troyes to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis with only Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille above them in the standings at kick-off. Les Sang et Or have started the season in undefeated fashion, and they began on the front foot here with Loïs Openda hitting Gauthier Gallon's post with a first-time shot that he knew little about (6'). Jonathan Gradit thought he should have had a penalty soon after, going down in the visitors' box with a foul that started outside, but referee Hakim Ben El Hadj didn't even give a free-kick (10'). With French FIFA World Cup winner Adil Rami playing at centre-back in place of the suspended Yoann Salmier, Troyes began to settle, though. Nearly half an hour passed before l'ESTAC conceded their next real chance, but unfortunately for them it was converted, with Danso heading home Przemyslaw Frankowski's set piece (39'). Troyes failed to capitalise on some penalty-box pinball (42') soon after before Jimmy Cabot volleyed wide at the other end (44'), and it was 1-0 at the break.

Lens Lovin' It

Frank Haise sent Seko Fofana on for Lukasz Poreba for the second half (46') and the former Manchester City midfielder's presence after injury audibly lifted the home support. Lens should have made it 2-0 little more than 10 minutes later when Florian Sotoca found space at the back post following a short corner, but he failed to connect (56'). Troyes might have punished the profligacy soon after, but after Mama Baldé's smart turn and shot in the Lens area, Brice Samba got down well to save (59'). Most of the second-half traffic flowed in Lens' favour, though, and Danso saw a long-range shot deflected to safety after a raid forward (64'). Gallon then did brilliantly to tip a Sotoca header onto the crossbar (69') before turning an Openda shot over the crossbar (70'). Sotoca volleyed wide on the turn following a Fofana knock-down (78') before Baldé fired a gilt-edged chance wide at the other end (80'), and it ended 1-0.

THE PLAYER: Jimmy Cabot

Cabot has had big boots to fill at Lens, signed as a replacement for the Marseille-bound Jonathan Clauss, who fought his way into Didier Deschamps' France squad last season. But he has taken to his task with fervour and was a constant headache for Troyes' down his flank on Friday. Troyes subbed left winger iké Ugbo off at half-time and their left-back Yasser Larouci was more relieved than most to hear the full-time whistle.

THE STAT: 15

Lens are now undefeated in their last 15 Ligue 1 Uber Eats games, stretching back to April of this year when they were edged 1-0 by RC Strasbourg Alsace due to Ludovic Ajorque's penalty at the Stade de la Meinau. Franck Haise steered his side to seventh last term, but if Lens can keep this kind of form up, a first European campaign since 2002 could be theirs come the end of this season.