Leon Smith's unbeaten run as Great Britain Davis Cup captain came to an end in Glasgow as Hampshire’s Josh Goodall went down 6-4 6-4 6-4 to David Goffin to hand Belgium an unassailable lead in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I tie.

Smith had overseen five straight victories since taking over from John Lloyd in 2010, but Belgium went into the match as big favourites and justified their billing at Braehead Arena.

February's victory over Slovakia ensured Britain's Group I status was preserved following their promotion last season, and they will not play again until next spring, while Belgium go forward to September's World Group play-offs.

Goodall had been due to play Olivier Rochus but the Belgian number one was still struggling with the thigh problems that troubled him against Dan Evans on Friday, so Goffin stepped in.

On paper it was good news for Britain, with Goffin significantly lower ranked than number 59 Rochus and playing in his first Davis Cup match.

But he impressed in the doubles rubber yesterday, which British pair Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins won in four sets, and is rapidly rising up the rankings.

Last week's victory in a significant Challenger tournament in Guadeloupe helped him climb to 112th in the world, 141 places above Goodall, who was also a winner last week but at the lower Futures level.

The 26-year-old from Basingstoke played above himself in a four-set loss to Steve Darcis on Friday, winning his first set in Davis Cup, but the size of his task today quickly became clear.

Goffin's groundstrokes were much crisper and his speed around the court a real weapon. He won the first three points of the match on his opponent's serve, but to Goodall's credit he managed to stave off the break points.

It was only a temporary reprieve, though, as Goffin broke through at the next opportunity when a forehand return proved too hot for Goodall.

The British player had one chance but netted a regulation backhand return, and Goffin had no trouble serving out the set.

The second followed a similar pattern, although there was controversy in the first game when umpire Lucy Grant overruled a linesman to call a Goffin backhand out when the Belgian was poised to break.

The ball looked well in, and Goodall took advantage of his stroke of luck to save two more break points, but again Goffin achieved the break in the third game.

Goodall continued to plug away and brought up his second break point at 3-4 only for Goffin to nail a serve down the middle.

The British player saved three set points in the next game, the final one despite an extremely late line call on his first serve and more complaints to Grant, but again Goffin made no mistake on his own delivery.

The writing appeared to be on the wall when, for the third time in the match, he broke in the third game, but this time Goodall hit straight back, breaking serve for the first time in seven sets when Goffin snatched at a backhand.

Goodall showed admirable spirit to save six break points in a titanic fifth game, but that effort clearly took its toll and Goffin regained the advantage two games later before sealing victory with a superb forehand winner on his first match point.