End of an unwanted era for Hannover
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Hannover 96 have put an end to their terrible run of away form and in doing so added considerably to Bochum's relegation worries.
The 96ers' first win on the road for 380 days takes them up to eleventh in the table on 35 points, now a comfortable ten clear of the drop zone. Bochum remain 14th on 28 points, just three in front of third-bottom Arminia Bielefeld and four ahead of Borussia Mönchengladbach, both of whom still have to play this weekend.
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Arnold Bruggink (12.) and Hanno Balitsch (32.) struck in the first half to establish the lead that would finally earn Dieter Hecking's team an away win, at the 15th attempt.After Bochum midfielder Mimoun Azaouagh had squandered a fourth-minute opportunity to put his side in front, Hannover soon asserted their authority over the contest.With twelve minutes played, Jacek Krzynowek exploited a defensive blunder by Athar Yahia and crossed at his leisure for Bruggink, unmarked in the middle, to head home.
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Bruggink turned provider for number two, taking the corner which Balitsch converted against a home side whose confidence seemed to have totally evaporated once they went behind. Only a great stop by keeper Daniel Fernandes from a 38th-minute shot by Jiri Stajner prevented them going in three down at the break.Bochum, missing five first-team regulars, upped the pressure somewhat after the interval but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Hannover's Robert Enke kept them well in check.
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Enke made good stops from Dennis Grote (52.) and Vahid Hashemian (64.), while substitute Hashemian was unlucky to see a low shot come off the inside of the post in the 69th minute.
Bochum's erratic finishing let them down throughout a hectic final offensive as well, on top of which Enke made another great save from Azaouagh. For their part, Hannover were more than content to sit on their two-goal lead and nurse home a long overdue away success.
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