Borussia Dortmund failed for a fourth time to move atop the Bundesliga this season, held to a 1-1 draw at home by last-place VfL Bochum.

A 30th-minute goal by Theofanis Gekas gave Bochum the lead, while Dortmund was jeered by the crowd of 75,100 at Westfalenstadion after only 20 minutes.

Polish forward Ebi Smolarek equalized in the 35th minute for Dortmund, which remained a point behind a lead trio topped by Werder Bremen.

``It's unbelievable _ I'd really like to be able to explain it,'' Dortmund coach Bert van Marwijk said trying to explain his team's inability to win crucial games. ``We just got more and more nervous.''

Dortmund was left in fifth with 12 points with the remainder of the eighth round to be played this weekend. Bochum welcomed the draw being routed 6-0 by Bremen last week.

Bremen and fellow perennial German power Bayern Munich face off Saturday in a match between two of the three league leaders. Schalke, the other league leader, is at home against Hannover.