A highly impressive performance from Eintracht Braunschweig seen them run out 0-3 winners against FSV Frankfurt. Havard Nielsen scored a first half brace, including a goal inside the opening thirty seconds, while loanee Mushaga Bakenga rounded off the scoring late on.

There was just one change from the triumph in Aalen for FSV, as Tom Beugelsdijk replaced Björn Schlicke at the heart of defence. The hosts were aiming to keep up a fantastic run of just one defeat in their last six games, including a magnificent 2-5 win against Greuther Fürth.

As for Thorsten Lieberknecht's men, they were going for a fourth straight victory. A run that has propelled them up the table at a rate of knots, consistency has been a massive part of their form. So, in keeping with that theory, the Lions made just one alteration to the side that beat Erzgebirge Aue last time out. Havard Nielsen came in for captain Dennis Kruppke.

What an impact the Norwegian made, fully vindicating his manager's decision to start him, as he netted the opening goal after just twenty-seven seconds. A long ball forward from Hendrick Zuck found Nielsen, with Alexander Bittroff and Hanno Balitsch beaten by the flight, he rounded Patrick Klandt and expertly slotted the ball home on the angle.

The goal seemed to fire up the hosts, who began pilling on the pressure. A few nervy moments, mainly from set-pieces, ensued, but Zlatko Dedic couldn't find the target. When the Slovenia international had the ball in the net, it as flagged for offside. His lovely chipped finish left Rafael Ginkiewicz with no chance and replays showed he was clearly onside. Although Braunschweig did look dangerous on the counter, as Klandt produced a fine save to deny Vegar Hedenstad's marvelous costless-kick.

The half struggled for any rhythm, as both sides saw players booked, with Christian Bandurski's whistle the main protagonist for half an hour. Just when it looked like Frankfurt had restricted Braunschweig to a one-goal lead, Nielsen struck on the stroke of half-time. Hedenstad's costless-kick delivery proved just too good for the hosts' defence, as he supplied his fellow-countryman to head in his second goal of the game.

The pattern of play continued in the following forty-five, with Klandt called upon to deny Benjamin Kessel an early second half strike. Ginkiewicz did well to keep out some half-chances at the other end, but Frankfurt did not have the attacking impetus of the previous few games. The remainder of the game produced very few chances, with the hosts seemingly happy to accept their fate. Though Braunschweig did score a third late on. Substitute Mushaga Bakenga notched up his first Braunschweig goal thanks to some unselfish play from Norman Theuerkauf; he couldn't have been offered a simpler finish, after a lightning quick break. 

Ahead of the remaining games this weekend, Braunschweig rose to fifth place, level on points with Heidenheim. A mouth-watering clash against Nürnberg awaits next weekend, with the chances of an immediate return to the Bundesliga increasing on a weekly basis. As for Frankfurt, they won't be too disheartened by the defeat. Benno Möhlmann's side slipped one place to twelfth and could fall to fifteenth if results go against them, but will be hopeful of bouncing back against 1860 Munich next weekend.