Winning start for Hecking

Dieter Hecking enjoyed a winning start as Wolfsburg coach as they completed the double over Stuttgart with a 2-0 win.

Dieter Hecking enjoyed a winning start to life as Wolfsburg coach as his side completed the double over Stuttgart with a 2-0 win at the VW-Arena. Diego and Alexander Madlung scored the goals, both in the second half, as the Wolves moved clear of the bottom three in the Bundesliga and to within three points of their opponents. In an even-match, two defensive mistakes cost the visitors dear as they succumbed to a defeat which leaves them two points adrift of the top six. Ivan Perisic took his place in the Wolfsburg starting XI for his debut after joining from defending champions Borussia Dortmund during the winter break and he missed the first chance of the game in the 16th minute. Ivica Olic went close two minutes later as the Wolves made a better start to the game, played in freezing conditions. Both Olic and Perisic were then just inches away from beating Stuttgart goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, but neither could get to Ricardo Rodriguez's headed cross. At the other end, Christian Gentner brought the first save out of Wolfsburg shot-stopper Diego Benaglio in the 43rd minute. Shinji Okazaki missed a good chance early in the second half before the Stuttgart defence allowed too much room and time for Diego to open the scoring in the 51st minute. The Brazilian was able to charge unchallenged almost half of the field before shooting low off the inside of the post with Ulreich making a weak effort to save. The Stuttgart defence was all at sea again in the 67th minute when Diego's free-kick was headed in by Madlung to give Wolfsburg a two-goal cushion. It was a lead they were not going to throw away easily, with the hosts looking more disciplined in defence, and the win augurs well for a much more positive second half of the season.