Lens looking good

Lens took full advantage of an ill-disciplined performance from Reims to post a 4-2 win at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday night.

The visitors took an early lead through Aissa Mandi but then imploded, with the 25th-minute dismissal of Prince Oniangue allowing Lens to turn things around with goals either side of the interval from Wylan Cyprien and Pablo Chavarria.

The home side then stretched their advantage with a penalty from Yoann Touzghar, and although Gaetan Courtet pulled one back for Reims, they gave away another spot-kick late on allowing Adamo Coulibaly to wrap up the points.

Lens have now won back-to-back matches in the top flight while Reims have just one point from four fixtures to leave coach Jean-Luc Vasseur feeling the heat.

Things had looked promising for the visitors when Mandi headed home the opener from Diego's corner after just seven minutes.

However, Oniangue's reckless challenge on Lalaina Nomenjanahary earned the midfielder a straight red card, and Lens almost capitalised straight away with Loick Landre denied only by some smart thinking from goalkeeper Johnny Placide.

The home side finally equalised seconds before the interval, though, with Coulibaly delivering the perfect pass for Cyprien to slam the ball high into the net.

Another goal followed a minute into the second half as Cyprien turned provider with a cross to Chavarria, which the Argentinian tapped in from close range.

Antoine Kombouare's men were in the ascendancy now and Lens gave away a penalty on the hour when Franck Signorino took down Dimitri Cavare in the area. Touzghar then sent Placide the wrong way with his calm finish.

Reims showed signs of recovery when Gaetan Charbonnier's volley smashed the post eight minutes later. And Courtet went one better 11 minutes from time, latching on to a cross from Mandi to power in a header and give the visitors a glimmer of hope.

However, another lapse in self-restraint ended the match once and for all three minutes from time when Coulibaly was felled in the box by Mickael Tacalfred, before tucking away the resulting spot-kick to make sure of the win.