Lierse were forced into a change for Saturday's home match against Club Brugge due to a knee injury for Daylon Claasen. Alexander Mathisen was handed a starting place on the right of midfield. Dodo Elgabas moving from a central attacking role to wide left. Stein Huysegems was the lone striker. Maric, Gilberto and Wils formed a triangle in midfield.
Brugge enjoyed the lions share of possession in the early stages of the match, but any attacks down the flanks were well dealt with by the Lierse defence. First real effort on goal came after 25 minutes, Kawashima saving smartly from a hard volley from Odjija. Lierse did manage to put together some smart moves of their own. The first really good effort coming from a Gilberto free kick, Saïdi's header well held by Jorgacevic. Brugge didn't really create any out and out clear chances. At the other end Vandooren laid a free kick back to Milos Maric. The Serbians hard shot was punched over the bar by Jorgacevic. Half time: 0-0.
It was tenty minutes into the second half before the first goalscoring chance of note. From a Vadis Odjidja free kick, Ryan Donk was left unmarked at the far post. The Dutchman firing well over from close range. A fortunate escape for Lierse. Although Lierse were nevertheless holding their own at this stage.
With twenty minutes remaining a cross from Dirar after Vandooren lost the ball. Bjorn Vleminckx climbed above Saïdi and headed into the back of the net: 0-1. Chris Janssens made his first change: Gilberto taken off, and Wesley Sonck back in the fray after a six week absence. Almost immediately the ex-Bruges man had a chance. Almebäck failing to clear his lines and Sonck attempted a volley. The forward saw his shot go just wide.
Lierse tried to push for an equaliser in the closing minutes, but despite two further changes (Kovacs for Mathison & Ayew for Wils) it was not to be. Ayew only managing to pick up a yellow card after a tussle on the sideline.
Club Brugge were not at their best, but went home with all three points. Home wins for the two teams below Lierse: STVV & Westerlo, meant that the gap between Lierse and these two teams is reduced to just two points going into next weeks crucial local derby at home to KV Mechelen.
K. Lierse S.K.: Kawashima, Boban, Elgabas, Vandooren, Gilberto (75' Sonck), Gaxa, Wils (88' Ayew), Mathisen (79' Kovacs), Saidi, Huysegems, Maric
Club Brugge K.V.: Jorgacevic, Almeback, Hoefkens, Zimling, Refaelov (70' Vazquez), Vleminckx (87' Akpala), Dirar, Donk, Meunier, De Jonghe, Odjidja
Yellow: 7' Zimling (B), 92' Ayew (L)
Goal: 71' Vleminckx 0-1
Referee: Wouters
Attendance: 9216
