FC St. Pauli

Holstein Kiel 3-4 FC St. Pauli
Matchday 23

The next challenge for the Hürzeler XI was the weekend's top fixture at second-placed Holstein Kiel, a game that more than lived up to the billing. In a clinical first-half showing, Oladapo Afolayan opened the scoring early on and added a third before the break just after Marcel Hartel had made it two. Shuto Machino pulled one back for Kiel after the restart, but Connor Metcalfe immediately restored the three-goal advantage. Goals from Joshua Mees and Alexander Bernhardsson made for a nerve-jangling finale and Bernhardsson squandered an excellent chance to equalise just before the end, but the Boys in Brown saw the game out to extend their lead at the top of the table.

After matchday 23
Position: 1
Points: 48

Lead:
7 points to 3rd place (HSV)
10 points to 4th place (Fürth)

FC Schalke 04 3-1 FC St. Pauli
Matchday 24

The Boys in Brown were targeting their third win on the bounce at relegation-threatened Schalke, who had just been thumped 3-0 defeat at Magdeburg, but it wasn't to be. Yusuf Kabadayi gave the Royal Blues the lead shortly before the interval and then added a second with just over quarter of an hour left. Elias Saad reduced the deficit in the final minute, but Kenan Karaman settled it in Schalke's favour in stoppage time. The Hürzeler XI did not play anywhere near their potential and could have no complaints after their second defeat of the season, yet with all of their rivals losing, they retained their cushion over third and fourth place.

After matchday 24
Position: 1
Points: 48

Lead:
7 points to 3rd place (HSV)
10 points to 4th place (Hannover)

FC St. Pauli 2-0 Hertha BSC
Matchday 25

Another relegated Bundesliga side provided the opposition at the Millerntor a week later in the shape of Hertha BSC, but this time the Boys in Brown showed a marked improvement in defence. In fact, a marked improvement is something of an understatement, as the side from the capital barely had a look-in. Manolis Saliakas opened the scoring with a quarter of an hour gone and Marcel Hartel extended the advantage just before half-time. The Hürzeler XI continued to dominate after the restart but were unable to add to their tally. Nevertheless, it was an excellent response to the defeat at Schalke that widened the gap at the top, making promotion to the Bundesliga for the sixth time in the club's history look increasingly more likely.

After matchday 25
Position: 1
Points: 51

Lead:
10 points to 3rd place (HSV)
11 points to 4th place (Düsseldorf)

FC Nürnberg 0-2 FC St. Pauli
Matchday 26

The Boys in Brown carried on where they had left off against Hertha with another impressive defensive performance at Nürnberg. With the home side mustering just two attempts on goal throughout, it was largely one-way traffic. That superiority was not reflected on the scoreboard until just before the break, though, when Johannes Eggestein headed his team into a long overdue lead. In the second half, Eggestein turned provider for Marcel Hartel to score. That's the way remained despite further opportunities, taking the points tally to 54.

After matchday 26
Position: 1
Points: 54

Lead:
 10 points to 3rd place (HSV)
 11 points to 4th place (Düsseldorf)

FC St. Pauli 2-1 SC Paderborn 07
Matchday 27

Returning from the final international break of the season, the Boys in Brown entered the eight-game run-in with a home game against Paderborn that was to yield all three points. As so often last term, they dicated the proceedings and took the lead through Marcel Hartel after a fine passing move. Lars Ritzka added to the tally with a powerful shot from distance just after the restart. It looked all over bar the shouting, but Adriano Grimaldo reduced the deficit out of the blue, only to be sent off later on. A man to the good, the Hürzeler XI saw the game out comfortably to extend their lead at the top by another point.

After matchday 27
Position: 1
Points: 57

Lead:
11 points to 3rd place (Düsseldorf)
12 points to 4th place (HSV)

Karlsruher SC 2-1 FC St. Pauli
Matchday 28

Next up after three convincing wins in a row was a trip to a resurgent Karlsruher SC in the weekend's top fixture. And with the game less than two minutes old, the home side took the lead through Marcel Franke. The Boys in Brown gradually regained their composure after the early setback in yet another impressive away showing and Jackson Irvine grabbed a deserved equaliser before the break. They continued to dominate after the restart but failed to score a second goal. Instead, Paul Nebel fired the hosts back into the lead. The next setback was not long in coming when Hauke Wahl was dismissed for a second bookable offence, a highly controversial decision, as the Hürzeler XI should have been awarded a penalty moments earlier. Down to ten, they were unable to ward off the third defeat of the season.

After matchday 28
Position: 1
Points: 57

Lead:
 8 points to 3rd place (Düsseldorf)
 9 points to 4th place (HSV)

FC St. Pauli 3-4 SV 07 Elversberg
Matchday 29

A few days after the defeat at Karlsruhe, the club received the sad news that a fan who collapsed before the match had passed away. The home fans honoured his memory with a moving choreography and a moment of silence before the subsequent home game against Elversberg. On the pitch, the Boys in Brown didn't have their best day at the office, but still went in a goal to the good at the break thanks to Johannes Eggestein. The second half was a crazy affair with a hatful of goals. Elversberg equalised through Maurice Neubauer before Marcel Hartel restored the advantage. The impressive visitors were not to be knocked out of their stride, however, and Joseph Boyamba levelled at 2-2 almost immediately before Paul Wanner and Hugo Vandermersch set their team on the road to victory in the closing stages. Jackson Irvine's stoppage-time equaliser came too late, condemning the Hürzeler XI to their first home defeat in nigh on 12 months and seeing them surrender top position to Kiel. With Fortuna Düsseldorf also winning games for fun, the gap to third place dropped from eleven to just five points within the space of two weeks.

After matchday 29
Position: 2
Points: 57

Lead:
5 points to 3rd place (Düsseldorf)
8 points to 4th place (HSV)

Photos: FC St. Pauli/Witters