STEVE McClaren's FC Twente held on to their four-point lead over PSV Eindhoven and remain third in the Eredivisie following a goalless draw at the Philips Stadion.
Twente had won their last five league games, scoring 20 goals in the process, and although that run ended in Eindhoven, the result still represented a positive end to 2008 for the Enschede club.
Meanwhile, Huub Stevens' reigning champions had to make do with fourth spot going into the winter break after a difficult first half of the 2008-09 campaign.
Arjan Swinkels scored a second-half winner to end Willem II's four-match losing streak and condemn 10-man Sparta Rotterdam to yet another fruitless away trip as they tumbled to a 3-2 defeat.
Sparta have earned a reputation as the Eredivisie's worst travellers and they lived up to their reputation when they fell two goals behind to strikes from Rens van Eijden and Frank Demouge early on.
Sparta's frustrating away form was then highlighted in a three-minute period before the break when Ruud Knol pulled a goal back from the penalty spot only for Edouard Duplan to be sent off.
That looked to have undermined Sparta's hopes but Joey Godee brought them level after the break and when veteran goalkeeper Harald Wapenaar saved a Demouge penalty their fortunes looked to be turning.
But another disappointing away trip would be confirmed soon after with Swinkels striking the winning goal after 58 minutes to send the Tilburg side into the winter break with a much-needed win.
Vitesse Arnhem coach Hans Westerhof could have earned himself a stay of execution after steering his side away from the relegation zone with a 3-1 victory over rock-bottom FC Volendam.
Alexander Buttner got Vitesse off to the perfect start, firing them into the lead in the seventh minute, before Santi Kolk doubled his side's lead in the 25th minute.
Melvin Platje grabbed one back for the visitors shortly after the interval but Mads Junker restored his side's two-goal cushion eight minutes from time.
De Graafschap claimed only their fifth away point of the season with a goalless draw at mid-table Heracles.
In a game with few clear-cut chances, De Graafschap were grateful to goalkeeper Erik Heijblok for a number of vital saves.
Meanwhile, Huub Stevens' reigning champions had to make do with fourth spot going into the winter break after a difficult first half of the 2008-09 campaign.
Arjan Swinkels scored a second-half winner to end Willem II's four-match losing streak and condemn 10-man Sparta Rotterdam to yet another fruitless away trip as they tumbled to a 3-2 defeat.
Sparta have earned a reputation as the Eredivisie's worst travellers and they lived up to their reputation when they fell two goals behind to strikes from Rens van Eijden and Frank Demouge early on.
Sparta's frustrating away form was then highlighted in a three-minute period before the break when Ruud Knol pulled a goal back from the penalty spot only for Edouard Duplan to be sent off.
That looked to have undermined Sparta's hopes but Joey Godee brought them level after the break and when veteran goalkeeper Harald Wapenaar saved a Demouge penalty their fortunes looked to be turning.
But another disappointing away trip would be confirmed soon after with Swinkels striking the winning goal after 58 minutes to send the Tilburg side into the winter break with a much-needed win.
Vitesse Arnhem coach Hans Westerhof could have earned himself a stay of execution after steering his side away from the relegation zone with a 3-1 victory over rock-bottom FC Volendam.
Alexander Buttner got Vitesse off to the perfect start, firing them into the lead in the seventh minute, before Santi Kolk doubled his side's lead in the 25th minute.
Melvin Platje grabbed one back for the visitors shortly after the interval but Mads Junker restored his side's two-goal cushion eight minutes from time.
De Graafschap claimed only their fifth away point of the season with a goalless draw at mid-table Heracles.
In a game with few clear-cut chances, De Graafschap were grateful to goalkeeper Erik Heijblok for a number of vital saves.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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