Third division side Rot-Weiss Essen conceded a 0:1 defeat at Viktoria Köln and disappointed. Christoph Dabrowski was unhappy with the performance of his eleven.

For the third time in the current third division season, Rot-Weiss Essen was in action on a Monday evening. The team from Hafenstraße travelled to Viktoria Köln. RWE remained unbeaten in the first two Monday matches. A 1-0 win over 1. FC Saarbrücken (September 2022) was followed two months later by a last-minute draw at 1860 München (1-1).

The Red-Whites were unable to continue this series at Sportpark Höhenberg. They suffered a 0:1 (0:0) defeat at Viktoria. RWE showed the weakest away performance in several months. After a good opening phase, head coach Christoph Dabrowski’s team completely relinquished control of the game and hardly played a role offensively.

Cologne took the lead through returnee Mike Wunderlich (50th) and could even have won more clearly in the final phase. In addition, Isaiah Young was sent off by a harsh decision of the referee (yellow-red). That suited Rot-Weiss Essen’s evening.

The frustration of the more than 2000 RWE fans who had travelled with the team was correspondingly great. Even during the game, the standing-room section chanted: “We want to see you fight” – even after the final whistle, the atmosphere between fans and team was tense. A perfectly understandable reaction to the weak and erratic away performance of the Essen team.

Afterwards, Dabrowski also reacted to the criticism of the spectators: “Basically, I have never criticised my team when they are on standby. I’m not doing that now either, but you have to invest to the maximum and defend your own goal. Being determined, finishing clean actions, holding your ground in aerial duels – these are basics that you have to call up. We lost 98 percent of the aerial duels, we weren’t there for the second ball. If this willingness is not at 100 per cent, but maybe only at 99.5 per cent, then you will be punished in the 3rd division. “

I am not happy with the team. We actually got into the game well, but were too sloppy and lacked precision. Every single player has to step up a gear. We can only do it together.

Christoph Dabrowski

You’ve rarely seen Dabrowski so frustrated and disappointed after a game. It wasn’t just the result, but above all the manner of the defeat that annoyed the former Bundesliga professional: “I’m not happy with the team. We actually got into the game well, but were too sloppy and lacked precision. Every single player has to step it up a notch. We can only do it together. “