One point from the last three Bundesliga games, eleven goals conceded and twelfth in the table. It’s true that BVB have made better starts and club captain Mats Hummels did not even try to hide his disappointment following the 2-1 defeat in the derby match, “We are not where we want to be just now.”

The international warned that perspective be maintained. The suggestion that the club were in some sort of mini-crisis he dismissed as an exaggeration, “We have simply endured eight bad days and the comeback trail starts on Wednesday in Anderlecht,” he said having completed his first full ninety minutes of the season.

One point from a possible nine

One point from the last three Bundesliga games, eleven goals conceded and twelfth in the table. It’s true that BVB have made better starts and club captain Mats Hummels did not even try to hide his disappointment following the 1-2 defeat in the derby match, “We are not where we want to be just now.”

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Both goals were avoidable

An eight day period in which just one point has been won but if the rub of the green had gone their way it could so easily have been all nine points. In the 0-2 defeat in Mainz the Black n Yellows hit the woodwork twice, even from the penalty spot. The 2-2 draw could have ended differently had Antonio Rüdiger not somehow contrived to keep out a Piszczek effort in time added on with the ‘keeper beaten and in Gelsenkirchen (1-2) referee Gagelmann failed to award a clear penalty.

However, it is clear that BVB are not just suffering from a run of bad luck; there are too many defensive errors being made, too. Indeed, in the derby, the return of Mats Hummels was expected to bolster the defensive stability and yet he was at fault for the opening goal on 10 minutes. “It’s not often that I get to have a free header on goal like that,” said the Schalke scorer Joel Matip. Hummels took full responsibility for the goal but maintained that his failure in that particular incident had anything to do with a lack of match practise, “It was a mistake, could happen anytime.”

BVB are conceding too many avoidable goals

The second goal, too, fell into the ‘avoidable’ bracket; Adrian Ramos had the chance to thunder the ball out of the box but failed to do so. Jürgen Klopp commented that “We certainly gave Schalke a helping hand for both of their goals.” Mats Hummels is clearly irritated by the current pattern of two goals conceded per game. The captain knows there will be an improvement, “We can’t keep on shipping goals in every game. We will cut it out. We have no alternative.”

In Gelsenkirchen the mountain left to climb was too great and Aubameyang’s goal was not enough to claw the game back. BVB’s persistent pressure in the second half bore no fruit. Aubameyang: “We gave everything. We were the better team and I had the feeling we were going to get that second goal. But we just didn’t have that bit of luck.”

Jürgen Klopp: “We will be back”

Jürgen Klopp was irritated by the failed comeback, but was happy in the knowledge that in terms of commitment and effort his team could not be faulted as they topped all the statistical charts and is equally convinced that despite the many knockbacks the ‘results crisis’ will be ended, “The team has quality, a strong character and is mentally strong. We will be back.” Even if, as the Sky commentator Steffen Effenberg suggested following the 2-1 defeat to Schalke, “We shouldn’t write off Dortmund. BVB played well, but right now they are not converting their chances.”

Matthias Ginter was of the same opinion, “Up to the final third we did okay, but we just didn’t have the cutting edge today.” BVB can start their improvement on Wednesday when they travel to meet RSC Anderlecht in the Champions League. Klopp: “Despite all the problems we may have just now, we need some results.” (fu)

BVB under Jürgen Klopp after Matchday 6 and 34:

2014/15: 7 Points, 9:11 Goals

 2013/14: 16 Points, 16:5 Goals >> 2nd with 71 Points

 2012/13: 11 Points, 16:8 Goals >> 2nd with 66 Points

 2011/12: 7 Points, 7:6 Goals >> 1st with 81 Points

 2010/11: 15 Points, 16:5 Goals >> 1st with 75 Points

 2009/10: 6 Points, 6:12 Goals >> 5th with 57 Points

2008/09: 11 Points, 12:10 Goals >> 6th with 59 Points