Nurnberg win at last

Nurnberg picked up their first win of the season after beating Hoffenheim 4-0 at the Frankenstadion.

Nurnberg coach Gertjan Verbeek can reach for the razor after his side picked up their first win of the season in style. The Dutch coach had vowed not to shave again until Nurnberg won a game, and his three-month wait was ended with Josip Drmic grabbing a brace and both Timothy Chandler and Daniel Ginczek on target for the Bavarians. The win lifts Nurnberg to within two points of safety and puts pressure on Hoffenheim, who have now conceded more goals than anybody else in the Bundesliga this season. After a lively opening, Nurnberg took the lead midway through the first half through Chandler. The Nurnberg defender advanced deep into Hoffenheim territory before releasing a shot from 25 yards out which took a deflection off Jannik Vestergaard on its way into the bottom corner. Chandler then gifted Roberto Firmino the chance to level, but he wasted too much time rather than shooting from just outside the penalty area. Drmic doubled Nurnberg's lead before half-time when he tucked the ball past Koen Casteels from close range from Marvin Plattenhardt's free-kick. The game was practically over five minutes into the second half when Ginczek was put through on goal by Mike Frantz, and he kept his cool to beat Casteels and ensure Nurnberg scored three at home for the first time this season. Drmic was denied by Casteels, who saw Markus Feulner shoot over the vacated goal from long range. The Nurnberg striker then put the cherry on top of his side's performance with a fourth goal, the pick of the bunch. He took Hiroshi Kiyotake's cross down on his chest before volleying in off the inside of the post, allowing Verbeek to remove some facial hair and Nurnberg to look to the future with more optimism.