BREST – 4 (Mounie 3, Chardonnet 13, Faivre 33, Le Douaron 69)
Marco Bizot, 6
Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel, 5
Christophe Hérelle, 6 – His return from long injury issues has unsurprisingly coincided with Brest’s improved form in recent games and it was his pivotal last ditch sliding goal line block that halted Frankowski’s shot at 1-0.
Brendan Chardonnet, 6 – He’s grown into a real leader for Brest in recent times and added the second here via his back from Faivre’s corner.
Jean-Kévin Duverne, 5
Haris Belkebla, 6
Lucien Agoume, 6
Jérémy Le Douaron, 7 – Brest’s scouting of Le Douaron has been a key plot line in their recent success. Picked up from third tier Stade Briochin with no major experience in 2020, he’s looked lively and inventive when given the chance and it was his cross that assisted the opener here. Held off Danso to smash home a fourth too.
Romain Faivre, 7 – Not decisive often enough this year but he certainly was here. It was his whipped corner that assisted Chardonnet’s second before he beautifully shaped a third from the edge of the area.
Franck Honorat, 7 – Perhaps lacked tangible output here given how impressive Brest where in dismantling Lens before half time, even if his simple pass setup Faivre’s third, but his interplay, pass picking and drive from his flank propelled Brest forward once more. Many talk more about Favire, but Honorat is Brest’s true key man. Although he should score when clean through in the second half.
Steve Mounie, 6 – Not the most prolific during his Brest stay but he provides a useful focal point for a lively attacking midfield trio and his clever stooped header made it 1-0 here.
Others: Del Castillo 5, Brassier 5, Cardona 5.
LENS – 0
Jean-Louis Leca, 5
Jonathan Gradit, 4
Kevin Danso, 3
Facundo Medina, 2 – Traditionally a weak link in Lens’ side and so it proved again here. His defending is often madcap and reckless and he is far too easily flustered and forced into making a poor decision.
Cheick Doucouré, 3
Seko Fofana, 5 – Improved after half time where he was a threat, hitting the post as he started to exert his influence but lacked the fire in his eyes seen during the rest of 2021 before the break and was party to some static defensive work.
Przemysław Frankowski, 4
Jonathan Clauss, 3
Gaël Kakuta, 3
Corentin Jean, 3
Ignatius Ganago, 4 – His movement was troublesome but he should’ve scored twice, once via a side footed finish at the near post from Jean’s cross and then as his toe-poke hit the post before half time.
Others: Kalimuendo 2, Da Costa 5, Haidara 5, Boli 5.