It took a mere 33 seconds for Lens to open the scoring when M'Bala Nzola fired home from close-range after a swift break down the left-hand side instigated by Les Sang et Or goalkeeper Mathew Ryan for the fastest Ligue 1 goal so far this season.
The game was being played at a frenetic pace, as the visitors sought to add to their early tally. Andy Diouf dragged his left-footed strike wide, while Przemysław Frankowski’s free-kick almost caught Montpellier shot-stopper Benjamin Lecomte off guard.
Lens thought they had doubled their advantage following a sublime free-flowing move, expertly finished off by Goduine Koyalipou.
However, the goal was inexplicably chalked off when referee Bastien Dechepy harshly determined that Koyalipou had fouled Boubakar Kouyate in the build-up.
But a bizarre turn of events occurred before Dechepy had even made a decision, as he sent off both managers - Jean-Louis Gasset and Will Still - for appearing to block his path to the pitchside monitor.
Despite their protestations, the bemused duo were sent to the stands. La Paillade thought they had restored parity with half-time approaching when Khalil Fayad converted the rebound after Ryan kept out Andy Delort’s initial effort, but the latter fell the wrong side of a marginal offside call.
The visitors did score a second just past the hour mark when Jeremy Agbonifo scored within a minute of being introduced for his Lens debut, as the BK Hacken loanee tapped home from Adrien Thomasson’s cut-back.
The response from Gasset’s side was rather meek, with Ryan left untroubled when Othmane Maamma headed wide from Teji Savanier's set-piece.
Ultimately Still’s side had done enough to move up to fifth in the table - at least temporarily - ahead of this weekend’s remaining fixtures.
Les Sang et Or have now lost only one of their last 11 away league games (W5 D5), while La Paillade remain the only team across Europe’s top five leagues yet to keep a clean sheet this season and stay languished in 17th.
Flashscore Man of the Match: M'Bala Nzola (Lens)