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Lens continue to slide down the standings after they were held to a draw away to lowly Troyes on Sunday.
Beaten 4-0 by Steaua Bucharest in the UEFA Cup in midweek, Les Sang et Or were lacking in confidence ahead of their Week 12 fixture, but will have regarded the trip to Troyes as an ideal opportunity to return to winning ways.
Lens were comfortably the better side in the first period and logically went ahead in the 21st minute. Benoit Assou-Ekotto sent Daniel Cousin racing clear up the left flank, and the Gabon international cut inside before taking the ball round Ronan Le Crom to score.
Boosted by the goal, the visitors threatened to run away with proceedings, creating a host of chances before half-time. The clearest opportunities fell to Aruna Dindane, but the Ivory Coast international was twice denied by Le Crom.
Cousin soon turned from hero to villain, however, first of all seeing his penalty saved by Le Crom in the 54th minute. The Lens goalscorer was then sent off nine minutes before the end.
By that point Lens had already been punished for their profligacy, Frédéric Adam earning Le Mans an unlikely point when he thundered a shot past Charles Itandje from outside the penalty area.
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