Hand in hand: that was the conclusion after the game against Charleroi. Opportunities were plentiful to shake the enemy nets. Not so, and one deadly counter-attack was too much. We still wonder, though, why that valid goal in the first half was disallowed. A clear error judged the match official, the footage and the opinion of numerous other people in football contradicted this.

KVC Westerlo

It will be shaky until the final matchday, whatever the result against Mechelen. A win behind the Kazerne would be a big step towards retention, though, but you never know in football. OHL (against Club Brugge and Mechelen) and Charleroi (against Cercle Brugge and Gent) might also go on to pick up points.

Meanwhile, we already have 4 players, with 4 yellow cards, who may have to miss the last league game against Genk. We list them: Bolat, Sydorchuk, Madsen and Jordanov.

This time we can also share some good news from the sickbay, as Romeo Vermant is ready for duty. Whether this will be from the start, that will depend on our coach, in any case, only Lucas Stassin continues to rehabilitate and everyone else is employable.

Did you know?

• Our ball possession in 8 games was over 50%, but we only managed to win 2 games (at Kortrijk 1-2 and at home against Eupen 2-0).
• Our average ball possession then comes out at 47.5%.
• Our expected goals are 37.66, and yet we have made 40.
• we have had 46 great chances this season, 23 of which were missed.
• Our Kemphans have already given 11963 passes to each other, 78% of which have arrived well.
• Our goalkeepers have already stopped 101 shots.
• We have been offside 50 times.
• 117 corner kicks have been kicked.

KV Mechelen

Since the arrival of Besnik Hasi, the Manenblussers have already played 14 games, of which 8 were won, 3 were drawn and 3 were lost. After New Year, they are even unbeaten, reaching a 20 out of 24, with nice wins over Cercle (2-3), Antwerp (0-1) and Gent (1-2) and draws at home against Genk (1-1) and Anderlecht (2-2). As a result, our provincial rivals are still in the running for the coveted Play Off 1 ticket.

Hasi usually plays in a 3-4-3 system with the following names:

• Gaëtan Coucke: already has 10 clean-sheets on his record this season.
• Munashe Garanaga: Zimbabwe international who transferred from Moldovan Sheriff Tiraspol on 1 February.
• David Bates: wins 73% of his aerial duels with his 1m93.
• Elias Cobbaut: is on loan from Parma this season, having previously played for Mechelen until the 17/18 season.
• Bill Antonio: already good for 3 goals after New Year, replaced early last week with an injury, which will end his season.
• Ngal’ayel Mukau: youth product, invariably in the team under Hasi as a defensive midfielder.
• Rob Schoofs: captain with 6 goals and 5 assists, making him involved in 31% of goal participation.
• Daam Foulon: left flanker who played 3 years in Italy with Benevento.
• Geoffry Hairemans: sits at 80.2% pass accuracy this season.
• Kerim Mrabti: kicked 16x on goal and scored 5x
• Islam Slimani: aging blanket with packs of experience and is at his 12th club in his career with Mechelen.

Nathan Verboomen

• Joined the Flemish-Brabant-based Bertem-Leefdaal.
• Fanned Cercle vs Westerlo (2-1) and Westerlo vs Kortrijk (1-0) earlier this season.
• In total, this will be the 9th game ever for Westerlo, with 1 win, 3 draws and 4 defeats.
• His last game in Mechelen (against OHL) was lost 1-2 by the home side at the time.

Text and statistics: Peter Boons