Lokeren joy as Brugge are beaten

Early goal
Former Brugge player Van Der Elst took over from Paul Put last week and made an immediate impact, with his new side taking only three minutes to score through Lezou Doba before Runar Kristinsson doubled the advantage just before half-time.

Moving clear
Brugge are now 13 points behind leaders RSC Anderlecht, who won 1-0 at R. Excelsior Mouscron. Yves Vandehaeghe's 38th-minute goal was a further sign of that player's return to fitness after a long lay-off. Anderlecht are eight points clear of second-placed KRC Genk, who won 3-1 at home against R. Antwerp FC.

Thijs strike
Kevin Vandenbergh put Genk in front in the 20th minute, and while Darko Pivaljevic equalised soon after, the hosts made sure of the points with further goals from Bernd Thijs and Cedric Roussel. A further boost for Genk came with the late appearance of Paul Kpaka after six months out through injury.

Vleminckx off
R. Standard de Liege jumped into third place by winning 4-0 at home against KSK Beveren. Alexandros Kaklamanos, Jonathan Walasiak, Aliya Datti and Sambegou Bangoura scored the goals and to make matters worse for Beveren, substitute Bjorn Vleminckx was sent off in the 68th minute.

All change
Elsewhere, R. Charleroi SC swapped places with K. Heusden-Zolder, with Charleroi's 2-1 victory sending the visitors to the bottom. KVC Westerlo are sixth after a 2-0 victory at KFC Germinal Beerschot while Cercle Brugge KSV were 2-1 home winners against RAA Louviéroise. Finally, RAEC Mons lost 4-3 at home against K. Sint-Truidense VV and KAA Gent failed to score for the fourth game in a row in a goalless draw at K. Lierse SK.