Hanno Behrens came off the bench to make an immediate impact against Fortuna, netting the winner for Nürnberg and nipping their recent slide in the bud.
Nürnberg's less than impressive start continued last weekend with a 2-1 defeat at VfL Bochum, with another lost lead costing them dearly, René Weiler didn't hold back and made four changes as a result. Dave Bulthuis, Niklas Stark, Hanno Behrens and Alessandro Schöpf dropped out of the starting line-up, making room for Georg Margreitter, Kevin Möhwald, Rurik Gislason and Sebastian Kerk.
The same could be said of Fortuna and Frank Kramer, who was coming under increasing pressure. His side put in a good performance against SC Freiburg, only to lose by the same score-line as their matchday five opponents. Kramer kept faith in a largely similar side, with only Lukas Schmitz and Adam Bodzek being replaced by Didier Ya Konan and Marcel Sobbotka.
Both sides struggle early on
It was a tough beginning for both sides in Franconia with neither able to create any clear-cut chances. Aside from Sercan Sararer's near-post effort and Michael Rensing having to deal with a low cross, neither team were causing any real problems for the opposition defence. Unsurprisingly, due to the strength in the middle of the pair, it was turning into a midfield battle.
Fortuna looked to have taken the lead in the game thanks to a Ya Konan header, after he met Sararer's pin-point cross. But his joy was short-lived and a quick glance over to the linesman revealed that he was offside. Mathis Bolley had an effort saved from range but was substitute not long later from Ilhas Bebou.
Fortuna unlucky not to lead
His replacement made an instant impact and looked impressive from the get-go. The visitors were proving to be much the better side and twice went close late on. Axel Bellinghausen's looping effort almost caught out Thorsten Kirschbaum, forcing him to an impressive save. Fortuna then had another goal ruled out for offside after Julian Koch's daisy-cutter was deflected in by Mike van Duinen; the Dutch forward had strayed just offside.
The hosts came back into the game in the second half and looked slightly more threatening. Weiler's decision to use all of his subs so soon after the break freshened up the side and Schöpf, one of the new faces, went inches from opening the scoring. His shot was tipped onto the post by Rensing, though the ball cannoned back out into the gleeful goalkeeper's arms.
The hosts go ahead
Just a few moments later, the luck would fall the way of the home side and they took full advantage of a kind bounce off the post. Kevin Möhwald saw his 25 yard volley come back off the woodwork but this time Hanno Behrens was on hand to slot in the rebound and give his side the lead.
Fortuna went close, very close, late on and Ya Konan rattled the bar but their sustained pressure couldn't force a way through. Relief for the hosts who had struggled to defend all year, though Fortuna will feel hard done by to play so well once again and come away with no reward.