Schalke coach Mirko Slomka praised his side's ability to squeeze out a precious win while admitting the Bundesliga leaders were sub-standard in Saturday's 1-0 home victory over VfB Stuttgart.
This was Schalke's first win in five games, but has opened a six-point lead over second-placed Werder Bremen, as Serbian defender Mladen Krstajic's second-half goal sealed the win.
Slomka, who signed a two-year extension to his contract last week, said: "This was not one of our better performances, but we have lost games while playing much better football, so it's good to see the team grinding out a result."
PHOTO: AP
After Stuttgart squandered several chances to take the lead, the break through Schalke craved came in the 76th minute when the visitors' defense failed to deal with a cross.
Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi headed the ball goal-bound, but Stuttgart keeper Timo Hildebrand failed to hold on to it and Krstajic pounced on the opportunity to slot home the goal from just 2m out.
It was tough luck for third-placed Stuttgart whose Thomas Hitzlsperger had gone close on numerous occasions.
Schalke have now thrown down the gauntlet to Bremen to close the gap against rising-stars Mainz 05. But Werder welcome back Miroslav Klose, the veteran German striker, who has shaken off his back injury and will be looking to add to the 11 goals he has scored this season.
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With his team having begun the match just one-place above the relegation zone, Frankfurt midfielder Christoph Preuss bagged a superb 78th-minute goal from a bicycle kick to keep Munich fourth and move his side up three places to 12th.
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