Ligue 1 match report: Lens beat Toulouse to boost survival hopes
Lens gave their Ligue 1 survival hopes a much needed shot in the arm as they ended a nine-game winless run by beating fellow strugglers Toulouse at Stade de la Licorne.
Antoine Kombouare's men had lost their preceding four matches in the league, while their recent run had encompassed six defeats.
So it will be of some relief to the northern club that they claimed a battling 1-0 victory on Saturday night, with Pablo Chavarria's 76th-minute goal the difference between the two teams.
It was a win that moved them seven points adrift of safety and only four behind 18th-placed Toulouse, who have now lost three of their last four.
The home side nearly went ahead in the opening minute, with Toulouse goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher forced to keep out Jerome Lemoigne's flick on from Wylan Cyprien's corner.
At the other end Wissam Ben Yedder headed wide, while Adrien Regattin's low strike was saved by Rudy Riou after Lens had failed to clear their lines.
But Boucher had to make a superb reflex save from Pierrick Valdivia's volley at the far post from Cyprien's corner as Lens continued to threaten at set pieces.
Toulouse ended the half strongly as Oscar Trejo jinked his way into space before shooting narrowly over the bar from just outside the area.
Yoann Touzghar headed ove,r while Madagascan midfielder Lalaina Nomenjanahary's strike also missed the target as Lens begin to flex their muscles in the second half.
And they took advantage of Toulouse's frailties at corners to take the lead with just 14 minutes remaining.
Nomenjanahary's set-piece was only partially cleared to Ludovic Baal, who sent the ball in again for Chavarria to swoop in and fire a close-range strike past Boucher.
Toulouse almost levelled matters immediately afterwards, but Riou made an important block off Ben Yedder and that was as close as the visitors came, with Lens holding on for just their sixth win of the campaign.
