Lens back on top with win over Troyes thanks to Danso delight

Having enjoyed a stellar start to the campaign, a dominative Lens side once again found themselves ahead at the break, after Danso guided a header home five minutes before half-time.

Left unmarked inside the Troyes penalty area, Frankowski picked out the defender with an inch-perfect whipped cross from the left-hand side.

In truth, the opener had been deserved, with the hosts superior to their visitors in almost all the half time statistics.

Controlling possession, creating chances and pinning the Troyes defence back, Facundo Medina came within the width of the goal frame to putting Lens in front earlier in the half.

Rattling a close-range shot against the woodwork from a distance he ought to have scored from, the 23-year-old’s blushes were eventually spared, following teammate Danso’s opener.

Failing to offer a threat throughout the first half, a Troyes side that had won two of the last three Ligue 1 fixtures, would eventually register their first meaningful chance an hour into proceedings.

Mama Balde, a player who had scored over one-quarter of all Troyes’ goals so far this season, was able to force Brice Samba into a save, but the forward’s shot never looked like troubling the Lens shot-stopper.

Instead, much like the opening 45 minutes, it was the home side who controlled the second half, creating a number of chances, without ever finding the killer goal.

Florian Sotoca saw a header pushed onto the crossbar by Gauthier Gallon, while Lois Openda also saw an effort denied by the Troyes goalkeeper.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Florian Sotoca (Lens)

Check out all the statistics as Lens go top of Ligue 1 with Flaschscore.