Groningen haven't been able to recover from a poor season start, as the northerners lost 1-2 to NAC Breda on Sunday. NAC in turn, climb up to third place.
The home side lacked inspiration from the start and couldn't prevent that NAC took control. The Breda outfit went ahead on 38 minutes when Robbert Schilder found Edwin de Graaf, who then beat keeper Van Loo for 0-1.
And things got worse for Groningen in the 52nd minute. A corner kick from Schilder found the head of Kees Kwakman, who did well to directed it past the keeper to double the visitors' lead.
Groningen did pull one back through Koen van der Laak in the 82nd minute, but NAC held on to their lead to snatch three points.
NAC now share first place with Twente, Feyenoord and Utrecht but are the third team based on goal record. Groningen are only two spots away from the bottom.