Next match: Hannover up the ante

The match again emphasised the struggling Bundesliga outfit's main weakness: a lack of firepower in attack. Sporting director Jörg Schmadtke was again active in the transfer market, bringing in Brazilian Elson from VfB Stuttgart as well as Sevilla striker Arouna Kone on loan until the end of the season. "Hopefully now we'll be a bit more potent up front," said Slomka. "We've brought in a proven goalscorer and a decent passer of the ball - exactly what we've been missing recently." 96 also tried to purchase Gerhard Tremmel from Energie Cottbus, but that deal fell apart at the eleventh hour, a turn of events that can hardly have been encouraging for current No1 Florian Fromlowitz. The 23-year-old has already seen one experienced goalkeeper signed since he took over from the sadly deceased Robert Enke in the form of veteran shot-stopper Uwe Gospodarek.

Injuries to the inspirational Hanno Balitsch and Steven Cherundolo have also tempered morale at Hannover. Balitsch had to undergo an operation on his troublesome knee and will be out for around two weeks. Cherundolo, meanwhile, has been out with a shoulder injury picked up in training and will be out for another month.