PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 2-1 Lens: Filipe Luís side go top of Ligue 1 as Lens’ Yannick Cahuzac era begins with defeat

AS Monaco continued their unbeaten start to the season and returned to the top of the Ligue 1 table thanks to a slender win over RC Lens , who begin life under their new manager, Yannick Cahuzac , with a defeat (2-1).

Monaco had to find the back of the net three times to score their first goal. Matthis Abline tucked past Robin Risser but was clearly offside, Edan Diop then did the same, but this time it was Paris Brunner offside in the build-up. It was the offsidemen who combined to open the scoring. Abline beat West Ham United loanee Jean-Clair Todibo down the right before pulling back for a completely unmarked Brunner to net his sixth goal of the season.

It was the same pair at the heart of the next big chance. Brunner was played in by Aleksandr Golovin and drew a save from Risser. Abline was unmarked with the rebound but made poor contact, his shot dribbling harmlessly wide of Risser's goal. Denis Zakaria was the next to sting the palms of the France international. If only Abline could stay onside, it would have been an easy day at the office for Monaco, but alas, he could not, once again straying before finishing past Risser once more.

A switch to a back four at half-time, following the withdrawal of Todibo, allowed Lens to grow into the game, however, and they equalised through Matthieu Udol , who evaded his marker at a corner to head home at the near post from a Florian Thauvin corner. Les Sang et Or were building in confidence as Monaco's shrank. Junior Kadile beat Vanderson and whipped a ball onto the head of Franjo Ivanovic. The Benfica loanee couldn't steer his effort on target, but Thorgan Hazard would test Lukas Hradecky with a curled effort to the near post. The Finnish goalkeeper was up to the task to turn it around the corner.

Despite the introduction of the returning Folarin Balogun and Mathys Detourbet, Monaco could not procure the same openings that were created with relative ease in the first half. Luckily for the Principality club, Lens were feeling charitable. Jonathan Gradit , who replaced Todibo at the break, challenged Brunner for a header. The German couldn't get to it but he destabilised his marker sufficiently to make him turn it into his own net.

Perhaps he could have done better on the equaliser, which sailed over his head, but he made two key saves with the scores level and then was well placed to deny Udol with what was the final touch of the game.

He didn't necessarily look to have a future at Monaco and his selection came as a big shock, but he justified it. Sometimes a little hurried on the ball and lacking composure, it was clear that he was chosen to bring balance. It was his defensive work that would matter here and in that sense he was flawless. He was the first Monégasque to make way, with the more attack-minded Mathys Detourbet taking his place after the scores were levelled.

He scored his two offside chances but failed to score the one that would have counted. Bar his inability to remain onside, it was a strong performance from the former FC Nantes forward, who ran the channels well and won his individual duels.

Replaced by Jonathan Gradit ( 4 ) at half-time. The West Ham loanee was at the scene of the crime for the goal and lost his physicsl duel with Abline. The defender still clearly has work to do to get up to speed.

Certainly not his best night, but his deadball delivery is so valuable. It was his corner that created the equaliser and every time Lens got a corner, you could hear the Stade Louis II hold its breath.

For now, he works best as an impact player off the bench. He was largely outmuscled and lacked the influence that he had coming off the bench in the UEFA Champions League last week.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco