Bart Schenkeveld scored a brace to hand Excelsior a priceless 3-1 win over fellow strugglers VVV-Venlo in the Eredivisie.
The win moves Excelsior off the bottom of the standings at VVV’s expense but still leaves them four points adrift of safety.
Schenkeveld scored either side of half-time before Darren Maatsen put Excelsior three goals clear.
Brian Linssen was sent off for the visitors when 1-0 down and they could not recover despite scoring late on through Yanic Wildschut.
Vitesse Arnhem kept alive their flickering hopes of a top four finish with a 1-0 home win over NAC Breda.
Nicky Hof scored his first goal of the campaign, capping off a fine team move in the 19th minute with the only goal of the game.
Vitesse remain in seventh with the win, five points behind fourth-placed Heerenveen.
The match between ADO Den Haag and AZ Alkmaar was postponed due to adverse weather.
