France round-up: Lens march on

Ousseinoh Diouf capitalised on an error by Lille OSC defender Pascal Cygan to score the only goal of Friday's game and give RC Lens a vital win in their top-of-the-table meeting.

Eight-point lead
The Senegal striker netted after 57 minutes at the Grimonprez-Jooris stadium to give Joel Muller's side an eight-point lead over second-placed Olympique Lyonnais in Le Championnat. Cygan's back-pass to goalkeeper Grégory Wimbée was underhit, and Daniel Moreira nipped in from the left wing and set up Diouf to slot home.

Improved second half
The match improved drastically after half-time following a tense, scoreless opening period, with LOSC taking the game to their visitors. Dagui Bakari saw Guillaume Warmuz pull off a fine reflex save from his header following Bruno Cheyrou's corner. Cheyrou was the architect of another gilt-edged chance five minutes later but Warmuz was equal to Grégory Tafforeau's shot after the winger's through-ball.

Captain's role
Warmuz, the Lens captain, was called into action again within two minutes, stopping Mile Sterjovski's drive from 13 metres. His saves were to prove pivotal as Lens held on, despite LOSC's territorial dominance, to take a crucial win. LOSC remain fourth, eleven points behind Lens.