Nurnberg celebrated their 1,000th game in the Bundesliga with a 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin which increased the likelihood of them extending their stay in the top flight of German football by another season.
Alexander Esswein and Dominic Maroh scored the goals for Dieter Hecking's side against Hertha Berlin, whose new coach Michael Skibbe made a losing return to the Bundesliga.
The win lifted Nurnberg above their opponents, taking them five points clear of the bottom three.
There was early drama at the Frankenstadion as Philipp Wollscheid's effort hit both posts before rebounding out to safety in the sixth minute.
Daniel Didavi tested Hertha goalkeeper Thomas Kraft with a powerful shot in the 12th minute as the hosts made a promising start to the game.
Nurnberg goalkeeper Raphael Schafer was called into action for the first time in the 23rd minute and he reacted well to deny Peter Niemeyer.
A defensive mistake almost let Pierre Lasogga in for the visitors, but he shot over the crossbar after half an hour.
Nurnberg then regained order and took the lead just before half-time with Esswein trying his luck from just outside the penalty area, and fortune was on his side as the ball took a deflection off Roman Hubnik on its way past Kraft.
Christian Eigler had the home side's next chance in the 59th minute, but he shot against Kraft's foot with only the Hertha goalkeeper to beat.
Midfielder Almog Cohen came to the home side's rescue twice in the 66th minute as he first blocked Hubnik's header on the line and then repeated his heroics to prevent Niemeyer from scoring on the rebound.
Hertha increased the pressure on their hosts and searched for a route back into the game, but Nurnberg blocked off all of the roads before doubling their lead in the 85th minute.
Adam Hlousek's free-kick was met at the far post buy Maroh, who just had to stick out a leg to divert the ball in and seal the win for Hecking's men.
