Wallemme wont throw in Towel

Wallemme wont throw in Towel

Lens opened their Ligue 1 campaign by suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Bordeaux but coach Jean-Guy Wallemme is remaining upbeat ahead of Saturday's home match against Auxerre.

The promoted club were thumped 4-1 by the French champions last weekend, although two of Les Girondins' goals came in the dying stages.

Wallemme does not think it is all doom and gloom for Lens and wants to see his players bounce back at the Stade Felix-Bollaert this weekend.

"Against Bordeaux, even if the defeat was heavy, there were still some interesting things to come out of it," he said.

"We have to maintain the playing level we had but with more efficiency if we are going to be able to compete against Auxerre.

"It will not be an easy season but if we take all our points at home, we will stay up easily. That is obvious."

Wallemme has proved he was not too disheartened by last weekend's performance, by selecting an unchanged squad.

It means star striker Aruna Dindane, who has been linked with a move away from the northerners, is still missing, as is Sidi Keita.

Geoffrey Doumeng (ankle) is also absent.

Auxerre also began the new season with a defeat, 1-0 at home to Sochaux.

They are missing the presence of star striker Ireneusz Jelen, and the Poland international will not be returning for at least another month because of his knee injury.

Summer signing Alexandre Licata is still nursing an ankle problem, so Kenya star Dennis Oliech should start up front again.