week 14 - match report

Slomka bemoans lack of third goal in 2-1 win over Bochum

"We've defended our lead at the top of the table with the 2-1 win, so my compliments go to the players." But while Mirko Slomka was happy with the result against VfL Bochum, he would have wished for a less nervy finish after his side had led comfortably at half-time.

The Royal Blues went into the local derby according to the motto "never change a winning team", which meant that the fit-again Lincoln, Soren Larsen and Mathias Abel all started on the bench. But the side that won in Cottbus took a little while to get going this time. "Though we didn't make an explosive start we eventually made our pace tell", said Slomka, delighted not only  with the nice work that led to Rafinha's first ever Bundesliga goal  (19') but also with Lovenkrands' quick thinking to produce the second (27'). At this stage Schalke had the game well under control, especially after Bochum had failed to take their chance to go in front early on through Gekas. "We got ourselves in trouble with a number of misplaced passes", said Bochum coach Marcel Koller, who gave his team a half-time ultimatum: "We can either fill our pants or show more courage when we've got the ball."

The visitors did indeed show more courage in the second half and got themselves back into the match when they pulled one back early with a 49th minute strike by Gekas. But Schalke, now operating with Lincoln instead of striker Halil Altintop,  then had a series of chances to put the game to bed. "The way we were playing we could have scored a third in the first half, but in the second we really should have. We had a host of chances on the break, but were a bit negligent in our finishing", said Slomka, not just with Levan Kobiashvili's missed penalty in mind (67').

As it was, the Royal Blues had to fight to hang on against a Bochum side who were reduced to ten men when Heiko Butscher was sent off in the 66th minute. Which led Koller to sum up as follows: "I'm annoyed that we lost, but I'm pleased with the morale my team showed. Even though we were down to ten men they fought to the end to get a draw." A view shared by Slomka: "We were justifiably concerned before the match. Bochum are improving all the time, as demonstrated by their seven goals in the previous two games. This time they only managed one."

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Rodriguez, Krstajic, Pander - Hamit Altintop, Bajramovic (Ernst 72'), Kobiashvili - Halil Altintop (Lincoln 46'), Kuranyi, Lovenkrands (Larsen 88')

Bochum: Skov-Jensen - Lense, Drsek, Butscher, Bönig (Meichelbeck 85') - Maltritz, Zdebel - Schröder (Dabrowski 77'), Trojan (Bechmann 72') - Misimovic - Gekas

Referee: Gräfe (Berlin)

Goals: 1-0 Rafinha (19'), 2-0 Lovenkrands (27'), 2-1 Gekas (49')

Attendance: 61,482 (sold out)

Red card: Butscher (66'/professional foul)

Yellow cards: Kobiashvili (3), Bajramovic (5/1) - Maltritz (4)

Notable incidents: Kobiashvili penalty saved by Skov-Jensen (67')