At the end of the best week of their season so far, Lierse were brought back down to earth on Saturday evening, going down to a 2-0 defeat at Lokeren.

Chris Janssens made only one change to the team that completed extra time at Standard on Wednesday. Boban Grncarov returning to the centre of defence alongside Karim Saïdi in place of Frédéric Frans.

The first half was a fairly turgid affair with not much in the way of chances at either end. Milos Maric fired a free kick over for Lierse, and then approaching the half hour Lokeren had two outstanding chances in the same passage of play. On both occasions Kawashima saved Lierse's bacon, firstly diverting away a header from Taravel and then fisting away a hard low shot from Persoons.

Lierse also occasionally threatened towards half time, notably via Bidaoui and Elgabas, and then in a scramble in the Lokeren area when both De Wree and Grncarov were just unable to apply the finishing touch.

The best chance of the first half came in the 44th minute. A badly placed pass from Wils allowed De Ceulaer to run clean through on goal. Eiji Kawashima spread himself big at De Ceulaer's feet, and made a superb reflex save. 0-0 at the break.

Lokeren began the second half the more sharply. The home team missing two good chances from headers in the opening minutes. But in the 52nd minute they took the lead? De Ceulaer again allowed through on goal, Kawashima saved the first effort superbly, but De Ceulaer fired in the rebound: 1-0.  Janssens brought on Yasser and Sonck, which almost paid off immediately. Firstly Sonck shot over from an assist from Yasser, and then Wesley headed just over from an assist from Bidaoui. Lierse were beginning to give away more space at the back and Lokeren were able to profit from it. Firstly Patosi fired straight at Kawashima, but the resultant corner was tapped home from close range by De Ceulaer.
Lierse played their last card, Adesanya coming in as an extra forward. But the chances continued coming at the other end. De Ceulaer laying it on a plate, but both Patosi and Harbaoui missed from close by. Lokeren were able to hold their lead quite comfortably in the closing stages, and the match finished 2-0.

Lierse will not have too much time to dwell on this setback. They face Cercle Brugge at the Lisp on Wednesday evening, before a 6-point match away at Westerlo next Saturday.

Lokeren:  Lazic, Taravel, Maric, Overmeire, Persoons, Harbaoui, De Ceulaer, Galitsios ('69 Tiko), Mokulu ('46 Patosi), De Bock, De Pauw ('77 Fevang)
K. Lierse S.K.: Kawashima, De Wree, Grncarov, Elgabas ('80 Adesanya), Bidaoui, Claasen, Gaxa, Wils, Saïdi, Davids ('62' Sonck), Maric ('55 Yasser)
Yellow: 29' De Ceulaer (Lo), 39' Galitsios (Lo), 47' Wils (L), 
Goals: 52' De Ceulaer (1-0), 73' De Ceulaer (2-0) 
Referee:  Lambrechts