Paderborn got promoted back to the top flight after enjoying excellent season that saw the team have the best home record in the division and generally goals were scored at will. The other thing that helped a lot was the good health of the squad, with only 1 important player missing more than a game or two consecutively during the season.
The positive signs were there right from the start for coach Baumgart and his men with Paderborn losing just 2 of their first 11 league games (4 wins and 5 draws). Scoring goals was easy for the Blues, they scored 2 or more in 21 league games during the campaign.
The contributions were coming from everywhere with as many as 5 players finishing season with goals in double figures. However, the one player that was doing it all, scoring and assisting, was Klement and when he was on form Paderborn were simply unplayable.
The main issues were on the road, 8 of the 9 league defeats came away from home, but run of 5 wins and a draw between rounds 26 and 31 in March-April proved crucial for the promotion. The final test was in round 33 when 4:1 home win vs. Hamburger confirmed the top 3 finish.
Paderborn’s only goal for next season is to survive in the Bundesliga, but a lot will depend on that if most of the many players that impressed this campaign will stay put.
