Union targeted promotion this season, but ups and downs in their form and very poor managerial change halfway through the campaign denied them any realistic hope of achieving that, despite the fact that there was plenty of talent in the squad. In fact the Irons should count themselves lucky to secure top half finish after performing below par for most of 2018.
Strange start to the campaign saw Union going first through a five-game winless run in August and September, which was immediately followed by a six-game unbeaten one.
Unfortunately Union’s inability to maintain consistency proved their downfall and a single point collected from the three games between rounds 14 and 16 saw coach Keller sacked at the beginning of December. He was immediately replaced by Andre Hofschneider, who quickly proved to be not very successful choice as in his first two games in charge just before the winter break he registered two home defeats.
Hofschneider changed the system too much, made only one important winter signing, had bad luck to see the main striker Polter and several other important players suffering long-term injuries during the winter camp, but still he should have done much better. Union achieved only 2 wins from Hofschneider’s first 13 games in charge and come April the Irons had dropped from third place to fourteenth.
Union didn’t secure their safety until the penultimate round, but eventually crucial wins over St. Pauli and Bochum in rounds 30 and 33, plus vital 1:1 home draw vs. Heidenheim in round 31 proved enough to see Union climbing in a more respectful position for the end of the season.
