BUNDES LIGA: Cottbus register first win of season against Schalke 04

Energie Cottbus, the former east German club launched by miners, registered their long awaited first win of the season on Friday, beating high flying Schalke 04 1-0.

Playing home Cottbus, which operates on one of the smallest budgets in the Bundesliga, grabbed all three points at the eighth attempt thanks to Christian Bassila.

The former France youth international, who joined the side in the close season, exploited a mix up in the Schalke defense to score in the opening minute of the second half.

This was Cottbus' first win since April but despite it they remained at the foot of the table on eight points with Schalke remaining in fifth ahead of the weekend's program.

Cottbus up a storm in September when they sacked their coach Petrik Sander and replaced him with Bojan Prasnikar.

Sander's was attacked by many of his fellow Bundesliga managers and Germany coach Joachim Loew who were upset at the treatment meted out to the man who guided Cottbus into the top league two seasons ago.