"Looking forward to March": Rödinghausen has not yet ticked off the title

"Of course we want more now": Farat Toku. IMAGO/Klumpen Sportfoto

With the goalless draw against 1. FC Düren, SV Rödinghausen once again missed a good opportunity to move closer to the top of the table in the Regionalliga West. The East Westphalians have been unbeaten for six games and have not conceded a goal for 450 minutes. However, the scoreless draws against the second weakest away team in the league from Düren, as well as previously at KFC Uerdingen 05 and at home against the U23 team of FC Schalke 04, who are in danger of relegation, have dampened the good mood at least a little.

Accordingly, head coach Farat Toku (44) was also not very satisfied. "Despite our overwhelming superiority, we were unable to push the ball over the line. We didn't allow anything defensively, and we failed offensively because of ourselves," the football coach said in an interview, criticizing the lack of goals.

The well-disposed guest goalkeeper Jannick Theißen (27) almost drove the home team to despair with several brilliant saves. He was there with both fists to stop a lob from Marco Hober (29). The Aachen native showed all his skills when goal scorer Simon Engelmann (35) headed the ball and in a one-on-one against Paterson Chato (28) and after the break against Luca Horn (26). Either Theißen parried - or a defender from the guests got a foot in the way of the shot. "Unfortunately, we didn't have the luck to score a three-pointer," admitted Toku, "so the draw feels like a defeat when measured against the number of goal chances." The yellow-red card for Paterson Chato didn't change that, even if it meant that the SVR had to survive the final phase with fewer players.

Farat Toku, who took over SV Rödinghausen a year ago in a very difficult situation (twelfth place/16 points) and brought them back into the top group, can nevertheless be satisfied with the team's performance so far. After all, the East Westphalians are the strongest home team in the league alongside league leaders MSV Duisburg and 1. FC Düren (23 points each) and also have one of the most secure defenses with 24 goals conceded. However, six teams are significantly more dangerous in attack (38 goals).

A better position than sixth place still seems within reach. The next home games against direct competitors Borussia Mönchengladbach U 23 (March 8), Fortuna Köln (March 19) and league leaders MSV Duisburg (March 29) are encouraging. Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (April 26) will also come to Wiehen later. "Despite the draw against Düren, we are on a really good path, we want to continue to develop the team and we are looking forward to March," said Toku, who has not yet completely written off the fight for the championship, but is also realistic about the current interim results: "We did not start the season to finish first. The aim was to finish between sixth and ninth. But of course we want more now, but above all we have to make better use of our scoring opportunities."

Another important goal for the SVR is to qualify for the DFB Cup. The club has two options for this: either as the best Westphalian regional league team (the gap to Sportfreunde Lotte is currently six points) or as winner of the Westphalia Cup. After the 4:2 victory against third division team SC Verl, Rödinghausen is already in the semi-finals and will face league rivals Sportfreunde Lotte in front of their home crowd on April 16th.