Lens ensure dream start for Papin

Jean-Pierre Papin enjoyed a gilded start to life at the helm of RC Lens as his charges overwhelmed BSC Young Boys at the Stade Félix-Bollaert, a 5-1 win securing a one-sided aggregate triumph.

Early breakthrough
Things had been far less comfortable in Switzerland a fortnight ago when it took a late Olivier Monterrubio strike to earn a share of the spoils for Guy Roux's team. The veteran coach has since made way for Papin but if there were any early nerves they were soon displaced when Aruna Dindane headed in Monterrubio's 12th-minute corner. Four minutes later it was 2-0 when Dindane broke and his cross was firmly met by Kanga Akalé.

Dream conclusion
Lens did not have it all there own way and just after the half-hour Hakan Yakin sent Carlos Varela clear and the midfielder rounded Vedran Runje to reduce the deficit. Ten minutes after the restart the tie was all but over, however, when Akalé and Dindane combined again for the latter to make it 3-0 and further goals from Eric Carrière (67) and substitute Simon Feindouno (90) sealed a comprehensive win. "I could not imagine a better performance for my first game here," Papin enthused.