BERLIN (AP) - Two Bundesliga teams have offered contrasting examples over the value of switching - or keeping - coaches in a midseason relegation fight.
Stuttgart, which stuck with Markus Weinzierl despite picking up two points in eight games, routed Hannover 5-1.
"We were longing for a break. You can tell that a weight has fallen off us," Stuttgart sporting director Thomas Hitzlsperger said.
Hannover had hoped for a change of fortune under new coach Thomas Doll, but has now slumped to four defeats in five games since he returned to the Bundesliga after stints abroad.
Hannover opted for the coaching change, firing Doll's predecessor Andre Breitenreiter on Jan. 27 after eight league games without a win.
It wasn't given a chance in Stuttgart. Former Germany striker Mario Gomez struck the post inside the first minute but duly opened the scoring three minutes later with a crisp shot from outside the area.
Ozan Kabak headed in a corner from Gonzalo Castro 12 minutes later, and scored again before the break after another Castro corner.
It could have been worse for second-from-bottom Hannover with Michael Esser making a number of good saves to deny the home side.
*********Stuttgarts Ozan Kabak, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and Hannover 96 in Stuttgart, Germany, March 3, 2019.