MSV Duisburg just can’t get going. After the 0:1 defeat in Dortmund, the competition is threatening to pull away. The reaction of the fans again said a lot.

The shouts of “We’re fed up” after the 0:1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund II at the Rote Erde stadium were not quite as loud as those at the Sportpark Höhenberg on Saturday, but they could still be heard. In contrast, loud cries of “Duisburg, relegated” were heard from the Dortmund home crowd.

The active MSV Duisburg fan scene was once again fed up and had long since packed up their flags as the team walked in front of the visitors’ block. When the players arrived, the Ultras were still there, but some of them were already on their way out. A clear statement after the fourth defeat in a row.

Club legend Joachim Hopp spoke plainly during the half-time break on “Magenta Sport”. His statement on the fans: “I know many fans. They no longer have the strength to doubt. It’s the worst thing when no one complains any more. The club and those responsible have to analyse hard where the shoe pinches.”

“It’s very sobering not to have taken anything worthwhile here. We started the game well and got better and better after the early 0:1,” analysed U19 coach Engin Vural, who was on the sidelines with the professionals for the second time on Wednesday evening.

It was noticeable that MSV gained more and more possession as the game progressed, but lacked the final punch. The high tempo of Julian Hettwer and goal scorer Paul-Philipp Besong made life difficult for the MSV defence, which was also shown by the early yellow cards against Marvin Senger and Sebastian Mai.

The captain will definitely have to watch out after his second caution in injury time in Saturday’s home game against Münster. “We knew they were brutally quick. When you stand tall, that can happen. We couldn’t secure the depth over 90 minutes,” Vural said.

For an even better run-up, the 38-year-old decided to operate with two top players in Dortmund. But neither Tim Köther nor Chinedu Ekene provided the hoped-for turnaround. Instead, it was wild card Pascal Köpke who had the best finishes after his substitution. It is quite possible that further changes in the MSV offensive will follow in the next home game.