Goals at either end of the game from Blaise Nkufo and Marko Arnautovic secured victory against a Willem II side who this week were forced to shut their youth academy due to financial worries.

Aussie Nikita Rukavytsya was an unused substitute for Steve McLaren's side once again.

Heerenveen moved to third after they demolished Sparta 5-1 with their opponents' painful afternoon compounded as they ended the game with nine men following two sendings-off.

Arne Slot put the hosts ahead with a penalty in the only goal of the first half before Patrick Ingelsten and a Roy Beerens spot-kick secured a three-goal lead.

Edouard Duplan pulled one back with four minutes to go but two goals in two minutes from Michal Svec and Bonaventure Kalou completed a comprehensive victory as Heerenveen leapfrogged Ajax to go third behind leaders AZ Alkmaar and FC Twente.

Vitesse Arnhem suffered their second defeat in a row as NAC Breda secured an impressive 3-0 away victory.

Nourdin Boukhari put the visitors in front after 21 minutes and Anthony Lurling and Csaba Feher struck in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.

FC Volendam remain bottom after being denied a vital win against Heracles Almelo.

Melvin Platje looked to have grabbed the winner for the visitors with a right-footed shot into the top corner in the 70th minute.

But Jan Wuytens grabbed an equaliser with just three minutes remaining to prevent Volendam from climbing above De Graafschap in the table.