<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Monaco moved to the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday with a 3-0 win over last season's runners-up Lens who sunk into the relegation zone with even their coach admitting they are in "dire straits".</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Singo headed in the opener for Monaco in the 23rd minute with Aleksandr Golovin stretching the lead 13 minutes later.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Guillermo Maripan added the third just before the hour mark as Monaco eased to a third victory in four matches this season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Monaco have 10 points and are two points in front of Marseille who were held to a 1-1 draw by Nantes on Friday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"After five minutes, we were the bosses on the pitch," said Monaco coach Adi Hutter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I'm happy because we played against our biggest opponent this season, a Champions League opponent. We deserved this victory."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For Lens, it was their third defeat of the campaign and they are second from bottom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is a worrying start to the season for northerners Lens who were second last season, only missing out on the Ligue 1 title by a point to Paris Saint Germain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They will also start their Champions League campaign in just under three weeks' time against Sevilla.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Franck Haise's team created very few chances on Saturday in a game where record 30-million-euro signing Elye Wahi struggled to make an impact.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We're a squad in dire straits," said Haise.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lens have now conceded 10 times in four games; last season, it took 15 matches for them to give away a 10th goal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"With 10 goals conceded in four matches, I can't say that I'm not worried," added the Lens coach.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"There are currently players who are not at the level we knew, or not at the level we should expect. I want a combative team and to be much more involved from the start."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Saturday's early clash, the Breton derby between Brest and Rennes ended in a 0-0 draw. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bndb24/kh</div>