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Francis Gillot was delighted his Lens team were able to come away with a 2-1 victory at home to Saint-Etienne on Sunday.
Les Sang et Or were fortunate to be level at 1-1 after 45 minutes, yet a far more convincing performance in the second period saw them climb up to fourth in Ligue 1 thanks to Daniel Cousin's (pictured) winner.
"We went missing in the first half," declared Gillot after the final whistle. "We had more chances to attack after the break because we were winning tackles.
"Balls that we were picking up in defence in the first half we started picking up in midfield in the second. And it's always easier [to score] when you start nearer to goal."
The Lens boss also reserved a special mention for Olivier Thomert, whose spectacular first-half free-kick dragged the home side back into the match.
"Olivier's a lad who has an enormous amount of qualities," he said. "He hasn't been practising free-kicks in training because with the cold and the rain it hasn't exactly been the best time.
"In spite of that, though, he scored a beauty tonight."
In the opposition dressing-room, meanwhile, Les Verts Coach Elie Baup was generous in his assessment of the match.
"You know what, we've got a big heart but we're just not in the same category as Lens," he stated. "We did what we could on the physical side against a team that's been put together for the Champions' League.
"I can't really criticise my players because they did what they could. The money we've been able to put into recruitment isn't the same [as Lens] and we have to keep working with our youngsters.
"I'm terribly disappointed after seeing how they performed. They're young and they gave everything, but I hope this will help them in the future."
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