PARIS (AFP) - Lyon registered their first French league win since last year with a confidence-boosting 1-0 defeat of Lorient.

Gerard Houllier´s five-time champions have endured an uncharacteristic barren spell since the winter break, and they went into this game aiming to avoid a fourth defeat of 2007.

But in front of their fans at the Stade Gerland they extended their lead over Lens at the top of the table to 14 points thanks to Fred, the Brazilian who produced the only goal of the game in the seventh minute.

And it was something to savour 24 hours after they became the first French club to be floated on the Stock Exchange.

Lyon´s France international keeper Gregory Coupet set Fred up with a long ball and the striker produced an unstoppable drive to beat the advancing Lorient stopper Remy Riout from 30 metres.

Lorient thought they´d got back on level terms four minutes from the break only for Rafik Saifi´s close range effort to be deemed offside.

Set-piece specialist Juninho went close to doubling Lyon´s advantage but his floating 68th minute freekick was punched out of danger by Riout who also had to look lively to deflect Kim Kallstrom´s late angled effort.

Houllier said: "I´m very happy to have won. I´m proud and satisfied with the players´ performance in tricky conditions.

"We know what we´ve got to do to become champions. I really liked this match because I feel Lyon´s spirit has returned."

Lyon´s night was made all the rosier after Lille, lying second going into Saturday, slipped to third after losing 1-0 at Toulouse, with the goal scored in injury time by their own Gregory Tafforeau.

Earlier, Paris Saint Germain beat Monaco 4-2 to register their first win since the arrival of Paul Le Guen as manager and their first since October in the league.

The valuable three points left the struggling capital side one point above the relegation zone in fifth from bottom.

The rare win was achieved with a good dose of attacking flair that will have gone down well with PSG fans.

Amare Diane opened the scoring after five minutes, with the second an own-goal from Monaco keeper Flavio Roma.

PSG´s winter recruit from Argentina, Marcelo Gallardo, got the third in the 84th minute with Uruguayan Cristian Rodriguez completing a good night´s work.

Monaco´s second half goals came from Frederic Piquionne, who then had a penalty saved by Mickael Landreau, with Jan Koller coming up with a face savour late on.

"That will do us some good in terms of the table. we showed lots of heart against Monaco who played well," said former Rangers manager Le Guen.

He added: "We still need time as we´re not out of danger yet. We still need more points."

Landreau emphasised the importance of the result.

"This is a turning point for us. A while ago this would have been a match we´d have lost. We have to build on this now, these three points are going to do us a lot of good."

On a night when the goals were raining down Valenciennes swept aside Nantes 5-2 with Steve Savidon celebrating a four timer.

Le Mans prevailed in a five-goal feast against Sedan and down in the drop zone Nice did their prospects of staying up no harm at all with a 3-0 win over Troyes to leave them third off the bottom on 23 points, one adrift of Troyes.

Sunday´s action sees second-placed Lens up agaisnt Sochaux and fourth-placed Marseille at Bordeaux.