Max Kruse goal gives Werder Bremen win at Hertha Berlin

Werder Bremen picked up an important three points in their battle against the drop and dented Hertha Berlin's title aspirations with a 1-0 win in the capital.

Max Kruse scored the only goal of the game five minutes before half-time when he capitalised on a mistake by Hertha defender Niklas Stark and beat Rune Jarstein for his second goal in as many games.

It was enough to earn the visitors a second straight win against a strangely off-colour Hertha.

Werder even had chances to win more convincingly, but Serge Gnabry was guilty on several occasions of failing to finish off quick counter-attacks.

The one goal was nevertheless enough to take them above Borussia Monchengladbach and keep them five points clear of the bottom two.