AS Saint-Etienne : ASSE at the bottom of the hole … (and not that of Monthieu) | ASSE News

After the worrying setback in Lorient, it was urgent to react for ASSE. This match against Lens, before a mini 10-day truce for a Saint-Etienne team deprived of the Coupe de France this weekend, was essential to reassure.

And what better way to do that than consolidating your rear base? In any case, this is the choice made by Claude Puel with no less than seven defensive players lined up at kick-off! Less than thirty minutes later, Lens was already leading two goals to zero.

Harold Moukoudi’s goal from a corner just before half-time gave the Greens some hope (40th, 1/2). But the second half without the rhythm of the Greens did not turn the tide.

Lens hit the nail on the head in added time (1/3, 92nd) before Denis Bouanga scored from the penalty spot (2/3, 93rd). Anecdotal. In the end: new defeat (the 12th!), New tactical failure of Claude Puel and new performance unworthy of the players lined up. (Very) disturbing.

The top

Mahdi camara. He leaves his match and he is one of the only ones at the level.

The flop

Claude Puel. The matches follow and look alike. Tonight, the general manager tries a blow with a “new look” team, with a big defensive vocation … Lost bet. The defense was permeable and the Greens conceded two goals in just 25 minutes of play.
Pope Cisse. In the air, it’s solid. Ball in the foot, the Senegalese is too approximate.
Lucas Gourna. He is at the origin of the loss of ball which leads to the Lensois penalty. Unfortunately, this is not the only ball the young midfielder lost tonight. He made many mistakes and can be happy not to have been excluded.
Arnaud Nordin. He did not weigh and lost many balls. We can make the same reproaches to Kevin Monnet-Paquet.

The fact of the match

Charles Abi’s post. The second half has just resumed, ASSE is led 2 goals to 1 when Charles Abi transplanted in the axis to land a strike from the left It is slightly deflected and it hits the post of Jean-Louis Leca (53rd). A great opportunity to equalize soaring. The only one finally of the second act.