Champions PSV take advantage of Ajax slip, unrecognisable Feyenoord lose five in a row, while Heerenveen triumph in Frisian derby, writes Neil Adderley.

Willem II 0 v 0 Heracles Almelo: Dour stalemate in Tilburg

A 58th minute Ilias Bel Hassani shot that crashed of the Willem II crossbar was the closest both sides came to breaking the deadlock.

Despite a debut for new Willem II striker Bartholomew Ogbeche, the hosts failed to threaten Heracles in a game to quickly forget.

Vitesse Arnhem 0 v 0 Excelsior: A point not enough for disappointing Vitesse

Chances were at a premium in Arnhem as Vitesse failed to take advantage of the dramatic slump in form of Feyenoord.

Excelsior comfortably held the hosts at arm’s length with keeper Filip Kurto denying long range efforts from Renato Ibarra and Marvelous Nakamba.

The pattern of the game continued in the second period, and Excelsior could have grabbed all the points, but for a late stop by Vitesse keeper Eloy Room.

PSV Eindhoven 4 v 2 De Graafschap: Champions seize chance and move top of the table

With results elsewhere going the way of PSV, the reigning champions returned to the summit of the Eredivisie.

Goals from Luuk de Jong, Davy Propper, Luciano Narsingh and Gaston Pereiro were enough to see off a battling De Graafschap.

De Jong opened the proceedings when side footing home on 17 minutes. And the captain’s opener was quickly followed by a fine strike from Propper.

Despite a missed penalty from Jurgen Locadia, PSV went into the break with a three goal advantage as Narsingh curled home from a tight angle.

The visiting supporters must have feared the worst, but were given hope of an unlikely comeback after both Ted van de Pavert and Bart Straalman brought De Graafschap back into the game.

However, PSV hit straight back through a delightful piece of skill and finish from Pereiro. Securing the win to move the champions back to the top of the table.

PEC Zwolle 1 v 2 Groningen: First win in six games for Groningen

The visitors came into the game on a poor run of form, but left Zwolle with a deserved if unlikely win.

New signing Alexander Sorloth opened the scoring for Groningen. The big striker beating PEC keeper Mikey van der Hart in an aerial duel.

PEC levelled matters in the second half when Thomas Lam headed home past Sergio Padt on 56 minutes.

But it was Groningen who restored the lead just six minutes later as Michael de Leeuw fired past van der Hart.

And the game was settled in favour of the visitors as Danny Hoesen stroked home a Oussama Idrissi cross.

NEC Nijmegen 0 v 3 AZ Alkmaar: AZ outclass NEC

AZ claimed a fourth win in four games with a classy performance in Nijmegen.

The visitors got off to a flying start when Markus Henriksen opened the scoring with 35 seconds on the clock. Before ex­NEC player Alireza Jahanbakhsh doubled the lead on 15 minutes.

The hosts, themselves in a rich vein of form, never recovered from the early setback, and it was left to AZ substitute Levi Garcia to clinch a deserved win for John van den Brom’s men.

Roda JC 2 v 2 Ajax: Ajax surrender two goal lead and top spot

Ajax cruised into a two goal lead through first half goals from Arkadiusz Milik and Anwar El Ghazi. However, Roda hit back on the stroke of halftime when Rydell Poepon scrambled home a Kristoffer Petersen cross.

Despite Roda gaining ground in the second half, the hosts rarely threatened, and it seemed Ajax would hold on to both the advantage, and top spot in the Eredivisie.

But with seconds left on the clock Roda forced a corner, and after being left unmarked in the six yard box, Maecky Ngombo made no mistake from close range.

The late strike means Ajax find themselves in second place in the table, a point behind reigning Eredivisie champions PSV.

Cambuur Leeuwarden 0 v 1 Heerenveen: Derby triumph for Heerenveen

Arber Zeneli was the toast of Heerenveen as the young Swedish winger put in a star performance in the Frisian derby.

As expected, the game was not for the feint hearted, as both sides went at each other from the off.

Cambuur came closest to opening the scoring as on­loan Rai Vloet missed a glorious opportunity after controlling smartly in the box.

Heerenveen hit back but could find no way past the excellent Leonard Nienhuis, until Zeneli cut in from the right to send an unstoppable drive beyond the keeper from the edge of the penalty area.

Both keepers were kept busy throughout a pulsating match, with Nienhuis called into action to deny Heerenveen a second goal.

While at the other end visiting keeper Erwin Mulder pulled off a dramatic late stop to deny Cambuur a point from a point blank Marvin Peersman header.

Feyenoord 0 v 2 ADO Den Haag: Sorry Feyenoord beaten yet again

Feyenoord have now slipped to a woeful five defeats in the last five games.

Any faint hope of a title challenge was blown apart by an ADO victory, leaving the Rotterdammers 14 points adrift of new leaders PSV.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst may have rung the defensive changes, but it was all to no avail for a Feyenoord side that has simply capitulated.

Goals either side of halftime from Kevin Jansen and Gianni Zuiverloon piled yet more misery on van Bronckhorst and his team.

The Feyenoord boss will now lead his side into next weekend attempting to avoid six straight league defeats for the first time in the club’s history.

FC Twente 3 v 1 Utrecht: Twente move out of the relegation zone after fine first half

A first half in which Twente showed the fight and intensity they will need in a fight for survival, was enough to claim all the points in Enschede.

Brazilian defender Bruno Uvini swepped home a Hakim Ziyech corner after four minutes to give Twente a perfect platform.

And it was Ziyech, who may have played his last game for the Tukkers, who was again at the heart of the second goal. The Moroccan international supplyed Zakaria El Azzouzi in the box to double the hosts lead.

And the three points, enough to move Twente out of the relegation zone, were secured before the break as Felipe Gutierrez fired past Robbin Ruiter and into the roof of the net.

Utrecht hit a late consolation through substitute Ruud Boymans, but despite taking their foot of the gas, Twente held on comfortably for a crucial win in the battle for Eredivisie survival.