While still the throes of preseason training, Les Olympiens went down 1-0 against Monaco thanks to a Senah Mango own goal in Friday’s friendly in Cannes.

Didier Deschamps had promised before kick off that the aim of Friay’s game against ASM was to give as many players as possible game time – just as it had been against Vannes. The OM coach made only two changes to the side that took on VOC, with Gnabouyou replacing Ayew and Sabo in for Ullivo. With the match starting 8:30pm, almost the entire pitch in shadow at the time of kick-off – sparing the players another searing evening in the sun. But that wasn’t enough for a pacy start to proceedings. Just like in Brittany, OM relied on last season’s understandings and the combinations between Lucho and Niang was right on song.  The best goal scorer and the best assists man from the league last season were at the heart of all OM’s best moves in the opening 45 minutes. In the fifth minute, and after a one-two between the Argentina and Senegal internationals, Niang fired just wide. Five minutes ater and Lucho played in Niang who again missed the target. The South American playmaker then tried his own luck, again off-target. The fans in attendance had to wait until the 20th minute to see the Monaco ‘keeper tested when Charles Kaboré after more good work down the left from Lucho and Niang. Just before the half-time break Gnabouyou, released by Samassa’s backheel, was clean through on goal only to be denied by Ruffier. Monaco offered little as an attacking force despite an active Niculae and an unlucky Sagbo. OM could have yet had a penalty in the dying seconds of the first half when Niang was tripped by Mongongu but there was little to get excited about before the interval.

After the break, and as expected, Deschamps made a raft of changes. Of the starting XI, only Hilton and Sabo returned from the changing rooms. Almost immediately, Riou was called into action to deny an impressive Adriano striker. OM responded in kind with Edouard Cissé and Benoît Cheyrou taking control of the midfield. Hatem Ben Arfa saw his effort bounce back of Ruffier’s left-hand upright. Like in the first half, OM relied on heavily on the successful elements of last season with a central nervous system comprising Diawara, Cissé, Cheyrou, Brandao and Ben Arfa.

Without really being stretched at the back, OM caused themselves a problem in the 70th minute when Senah Mango tried to cushion the ball back to his own ‘keeper, only to completely wrong-footing Rudy Riou. The first goal conceded by OM this preseason came from one of their own…

The unlucky goal sparked OM back into action and they laid siege to Ruffier’s goal without ever really recapturing last season’s free-scoring football.  In the final minutes, a neat one-two between Abriel and Brandao put the Brazilian through on goal only for the France ‘keeper to clear. A Cheyrou corner failed to produce an equaliser in the final minute and Ayew drew a great save from Ruffier in stoppage time as it ended 0-1.

OM (1^st Half)

Andrade – Azpilicueta, N’Diaye, Hilton, Sabo – Lucho, M’Bow, Kaboré – Gnabouyou, Samassa, Niang
OM (2^nd Half)

Riou – Mango, Diawara, Hilton, Sabo – Abriel, Cissé, Cheyrou – Ayew, Brandao, Ben Arfa.