Lens head coach Pierre Sage believes their 3-0 victory over 10-man Toulouse was "well deserved" after a mature performance away from home.

Second-half goals from Wesley Said, Adrien Thomasson and Ismaelo Ganiou secured a routine win after Toulouse's Emersonn was sent off before the break.

Lens are guaranteed to stay in top spot in Ligue 1 for at least the next fortnight, with the top sides in Coupe de France action next week.

Lens have now scored in 13 of their 17 games, with only reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain (14) scoring goals in more matches in Ligue 1 this season.

Although his side took a while to find their rhythm following Emersonn's red card, Sage was pleased with their performance in the end.

"I'm quite happy with how we managed our second half because the first half left me a little unsatisfied from the moment we had a numerical advantage," said Sage.

"It's true that the team showed maturity in building the game up until the moment they opened the scoring, and from that moment they were a little more open and we took advantage of that.

"So it's a great victory, and I think well deserved."

Along with his goal, captain Thomasson also assisted Ganiou's stoppage-time strike to round off the win.

It was the midfielder's fifth assist of the season in Ligue 1, with only PSG's Vitinha (six) providing more in the French top-flight thus far.

"We were determined to start this year off right, just like we finished it in 2025," Thomasson said. 

"Having done these things, it was not easy tonight, but we will remember the main things, the victory, not conceding a goal and scoring three. That is always positive."