Round of applause for Cercle

Cercle Brugge KSV are stepping out of their neighbours' shadow to become surprise contenders in Belgium.

New status
Eleven games into the season, and following Sunday's 0-0 draw against RSC Anderlecht, Cercle are third in the table, three points adrift of their more illustrious rivals Club Brugge KV and a further point behind leaders R. Standard de Liège. Glen De Boeck's side underlined their new status by holding Anderlecht to keep the reigning champions fifth in the table on coach Frank Vercauteren's 51st birthday.

Birthday disappointment
"I had wished for a nicer birthday present," said Vercauteren. "We might have become one of the winners of the weekend, but this is a predictable enough result. As far as Anderlecht's usual standards are concerned we lost two points, but looking at the quality of our opponents, it is a point gained. I am disappointed but also realistic and have respect for our opponents."

Rising crowds
The corresponding fixture last season brought just 8,000 fans to the Jan Breydelstadion, but it is a mark of Cercle's resurgence that 19,955 attended Sunday's game, breaking the record of 13,000 set in 1982 and 1994 for the club's best crowd against Anderlecht. Cercle's all-time record of 22,000 fans for a game against Club Brugge in 1982 could be under threat if their form continues.

Late chances
The match itself did not live up to its billing. Anderlecht had an early goal chalked off for offside while the final 15 minutes saw Cercle hem the champions inside their own half. Honour Gombami headed just wide and Olivier Deschacht then made an important clearance off the line as Gombami looked to reach Oleg Iachtchouk's cross, but the game ended goalless.

Cercle denied
Former Anderlecht defender De Boeck, who was Vercauteren's assistant until the summer, admitted to being "a bit disappointed" to have only got a point against the man who he referred to reverentially as his "teacher". Nonetheless, he said: "I am very satisfied with what my players have shown. We played good football and created chances against a strong side."