Struggling Stuttgart missed the chance to claim a much-needed win as they were held 1-1 at home by ten-man Hoffenheim.

Sejad Salihovic gave Hoffenheim the lead after 11 minutes, but Martin Harnik brought the hosts level in the 34th minute. Hoffenheim were reduced to ten men four minutes before the break when Isaac Vorsah was shown the red card, but Stuttgart could not make that advantage count in the second half.

They have not won in four matches and sit in 16th place in the Bundesliga, while Hoffenheim made it three games unbeaten.

The visitors took the lead following a poor clearance by Timo Gebhart, whose misjudgement let in Andreas Beck. And the German international crossed for Salihovic, who placed a side-foot volley just inside the right post from ten yards.

Stuttgart slowly came back into the contest and equalised on the counter attack in the 35th minute. Cacau got around Vorsah and then passed the ball through the legs of Andreas Ibertsberger to Harnik and the Austrian international slotted home from nine yards.

Things got worse for Ghana defender Vorsah as he was dismissed shortly before the break for a foul on Christian Gentner.

Stuttgart came close to taking the lead just seconds after the restart but Cacau's effort came back off the right post. The Brazilian-born Germany striker threatened again in the 77th minute but Beck managed to scramble the ball clear for a corner.

The hosts knew how important victory could be and continued to carve out chances, but Cacau shot wide from 19 yards in the 81st minute and Harnik headed wide from eight yards a minute later.

Harnik missed Stuttgart's final chance, volleying wide right from 14 yards, as Stuttgart were forced to settle for a draw.