Nurnberg dent Gladbach challenge

Albert Bunjaku earned Nurnberg their third win in a row as Borussia Monchengladbach lost their first game of 2012 at the Frankenstadion 1-0 today. Substitute Bunjaku struck with three minutes remaining to lift the Bavarians to ninth in the table, just four points adrift of seventh-placed Hannover and possibly a place in Europe next season. Gladbach failed to take advantage of Bayern Munich's defeat to Bayer Leverkusen yesterday and remain in third place, eight points behind the league leaders Borussia Dortmund. Bayern's defeat gave Gladbach the chance to move up to second and Lucien Favre's side looked lively early on, taking the game to their hosts. Marco Reus was his usual intrepid self, creating openings which were not taken by his team-mates, with Igor De Camargo the closest to making something of the Germany international's creativity in the ninth minute. Nurnberg were more defensive, allowing Gladbach to attack them and giving them a taste of their own medicine with a counter-attacking style. Dominic Maroh had their best chance of the first half, but he headed straight at Marc Andre ter Stegen. Bunjaku bags winner Nurnberg were more adventurous in the second half and the game opened up, with the home side having the better chances through Benjamin Chandler and Markus Feulner. Gladbach appeared happier to settle for a point, but they were unable to go the distance as they conceded three minutes from time. Alexander Esswein took the ball to the goalline as Juan Arango was dispossessed in his own half and his pull-back was drilled into the roof of the net from six yards by Bunjaku, who had only just entered the field of play, to score his first goal in almost a year. It was worth all three points too, with the Nurnberg players jumping on the Swiss striker at the final whistle as they took a decisive step away from the relegation zone.