KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING AT DRESDEN
Thursday, 02. May 2019, 14:53 Uhr
The Boys in Brown were elated after the 4-3 home win over Jahn Regensburg, of course, but they were also relieved to have brought their winless run to an end. Jos Luhukay's side now go to Dynamo Dresden on Friday evening (kick-off: 1830 CET) with the wind in their sails as they bid to get another result. The Saxony outfit, for their part, can take a huge step towards safety with a win.
Last weekend was one of contrasting fortunes for the two teams. Dynamo lost a crunch game by the only goal at next-to-bottom FC Ingolstadt, thus squandering a gilt-edged opportunity to rule out automatic relegation, while at the Millerntor the fans were finally able to celebrate again after the seven-goal thriller against Regensburg.
Against a decent Regensburg side, the Boys in Brown more than earned their first win since the 1-0 defeat of Paderborn in early March thanks to a battling performance that saw them play some excellent football in the second half. "We want to go forward with the same effort and desire and do our utmost to get the best-possible return from the next few games," said head coach Jos Luhukay after his first win at the helm.
The opponents in those games are Dresden, Bochum and Fürth. First up is a trip to Dresden, where the Boys in Brown go with enhanced confidence after the win over Regensburg. If all goes according to plan, another win will follow at 14th placed Dynamo. That will be anything but easy, however, given that Dresden could take a massive step towards safety tomorrow evening. A win would see Fiél's side widen the gap to FC Magdeburg, who travel to VfL Bochum on Saturday, to nine points.
Dynamo, who will be without former St. Pauli man Sören Gonther (cracked rib), will be hugely motivated, then, and determined to land what would be a crucial win in front of their own fans. The Saxony outfit showed just how difficult it is to get a result at the Rudolf Harbig Stadium in their previous home game when they cruised to a 3-0 win over league leaders Cologne, a result that went some way to making amends for the devastating 8-1 defeat in the reverse fixture.
Dresden's recent results (they are now unbeaten in four at home) have not gone unnoticed, of course. But as against Regensburg, the Boys in Brown aim to play their own game and in so doing secure another win. "Against Regensburg you could see we implemented the coach's system better than before," said midfielder Christopher Buchtmann, who will miss out at Dresden due to a groin strain.
Even without Buchtmann, the Boys in Brown are aiming to embrace Luhukay's system still further and translate it into action on the pitch at Dresden. Married with the same combativeness and team spirit displayed against Regensburg, they will do all they can to return to Hamburg with another three points in the bag.
Photo: Witters
