Stuttgart manager Huub Stevens scored a precious victory over his old club as a first goal from Florian Klein gave the Bundesliga's bottom side three important points against Hamburger SV.
Martin Harnik saw his powerful header from Gotoku Sakai's cross saved by Jaroslav Drobny just three minutes in as Stevens's side started brightly.
Hamburg were given a further warning when Georg Niedermeier's header was cleared off the line by Lewis Holtby on 36 minutes, and just four minutes later the away side took the lead through Klein.
The defender's first goal for the club came following a swift Stuttgart break, with Alexandru Maxim teeing up Klein who calmly slotted home.
Ten minutes into the second half Stuttgart were reduced to 10 men when Niedermeier saw red for hauling down Hamburg striker Artjoms Rudnevs just outside the box.
From the resulting free kick Rafael van der Vaart saw his powerful shot cannon back off the Stuttgart crossbar.
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder went close again on 70 minutes after being found by Holtby, but Sven Ulreich reacted well to repel his strike.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Stuttgart held on to record their first league win in three games.
Joe Sharratt
