Hadouir's goal after 23 minutes means the men from Tilburg are now six points clear of the relegation play-off spots with four matches to play.

However, three of the four teams below them in the Dutch Eredivisie have a game in hand.

NEC started the match well and created the first real chance of the match after 10 minutes.

They launched a dangerous raid down the right which saw Brett Holman forge an opening for Romano Denneboom who tried a first-time shot that went just wide of the left post.

Ten minutes later they created another chance with Denneboom setting up Gunther Vanaudenaerde who was making his first start for the Nijmegen club.

The Belgian fired in an accurate shot but Willem II goalkeeper Bjorn Sengier parried it for a corner.

It was somewhat against the run of play when Hadouir gave his side the lead.

Kevin Bobson's shot was deflected behind for a corner which was played short to Hadouir whose shot from the edge of the penalty area went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Willem II shut up shop in the second half as they successfully defended their lead.

NEC only managed to create one real chance in the second period.

Substitute Paul Jans tried a shot which fell into the path of Jonas Olsson who fired in a shot that was well saved by Sengier.

It would be premature to celebrate top-flight survival but the men from Tilburg now only need to keep their nerve to complete the job.