Part 6 - Season 2013/14: October & November

With The Chairman making his displeasure known at the poor start to the season, pressure was on as we moved into November. I could really do with The Sang et Marines ending the losing run away from home as we travelled to Deinze who were ahead of us on goal difference. Goals from an Audoor penalty and another from Hardy meant we snatched a 2-2 draw.

Next up were RC Mechelen, who had only lost one game all season and lay 4th in the table. Although Mechelen had most of the possession, Liege managed to come out with a 2-0 win, with two more goals from Thibault Hardy.

Although this win took Liege up to 5th in the table, the talk in the press was that I could be sacked if Liege failed to win the next fixture, an away trip to VW Hamme. I hadn't seen The Chairman all week, and I was talking Jan's absence around the club as a very bad sign. Was he regretting my appointment? Was he looking for an easy way of getting rid of me, even at this stage? Was he already interviewing my potential replacements. If I hadn't been trying to get the team ready for the match I would have been tempted to have a look in the Liege Marriott and catch him in the act.

For the crucial match, I decided to bring Jeremy Foulon back into the side following his recent injury, and he lined up behind Hardy, and alongside Leger in a 4-3-2-1 formation designed to catch Hamme on the counter. Those tactics seemed to have worked when Hardy put Foulon through after a counter attack, and Foulon rounded the keeper and scored. There was heavy pressure from Hamme though, and although Liege still led 0-1 with 5 minutes left they couldn't hold out, and two late goals gave Hamme a 2-1 win.

I felt sure the axe was going to fall that week, and every time the phone rang I was sure it was going to be The Chairman giving me my Belgian equivalent of a P45. I was still in charge on Sunday however, when RC Waregem were the opposition at Le Pairay for the last match in October.

There were no problems once the game kicked off, with Thibault Hardy bagging a first half hat-trick that set up a 6-1 win, with the other goals scored by Cavalier and Leger (2). An injury picked up by Hardy was the only negative. Next up were Rupel Boom, and Liege got a second win on the trot with a well taken goal by right back Natalino Guerra.

The games were coming thick and fast at this stage, and Les Sang et Marines next went to Wetteren, where they got a cracking 3-1 win against the odds with goals from Audoor, Makengo and Cavalier aided by an early red card for Wetteren when the score was still goalless.

After 3 wins on the spin, Liege were suddenly 4th in the table, only five points behind leaders Izegem and we had a game with 5th place Hoogstraten next up at Le Pairay. Hoogstraten went a goal up in the first half but goals from Hardy and midfielder Fauvel turned it round and Liege got a 2-1 win.

The last game of November was an away match against Turnhout, who were last season's Division 3 Champions, but who were struggling this season, in 16th place in the table. Although Liege were under pressure for most of the match, Fernandez scored the only goal for a 1-0 win. This meant Liege finished the month with six straight wins and as we moved into December just off the leaders in Division 3 A.