French Ligue 1: No problems for Monaco against Evian

Monaco put their indifferent form this season behind them to record a 2-0 win over Evian.

Three wins from nine had left them in the bottom half of the table and in desperate need of some consistency, and they will hope this win can be the start of that process.

They could not have wished for a better start with Joao Moutinho scoring a penalty inside the first minute and then wrapped things up through Yannick Ferreira Carrasco in the second half.

The early penalty was just what the hosts needed and acted as the perfect nerve-settler, especially against a side who had won their last three games.

Olivier Sorlin literally handed them the initiative, committing a handball offence in the box and giving Moutinho the chance to open the scoring.

After that former Everton striker Lacina Traore spurned the chance to make it two, breaking through and rounding Jesper Hansen but then clipping the outside of the post with the goal at his mercy.

Ferreira Carrasco was the next up, playing a one-two with Moutinho but dragging his effort wide of the target.

Evian had been quiet until that point but then had a chance of their own. Fabien Camus crossed for Daniel Wass but 12 yards out, and under pressure from Daniel Subasic, he was off-target with his header.

That meant Monaco went in ahead but just after the hour they should have been pegged back. Modou Sougou got away but, rather than shooting, teed up Gianni Bruno who was shut down.

Their failure to take their chances would cost them too. With 70 minutes gone a long clearance from Ricardo Carvalho was allowed to bounce by Hansen and, stranded, he could do nothing as the ball flew over him and fell to Carrasco who tapped in.

It was a red-face moment for the keeper and only the wayward finishing of Anthony Martial late on prevented him from letting in more.