SC Paderborn's bid for survival in the Bundesliga suffered a setback as they let a two-goal lead slip to draw against Werder Bremen.

The hosts took the lead on 25 minutes when Moritz Stoppelkamp's corner was met by a sweetly-struck shot from Mario Vrancic, whose effort proved too much for Koen Casteels.

Two minutes later, the Bundesliga's bottom side doubled their advantage thanks to Stoppelkamp's close-range header from Suleyman Koc's pinpoint ball into the area.

Werder, however, were able to pull a goal back on the stroke of half time when Sebastian Prodl's cushioned header drifted into the path of Davie Selke, who nodded his effort low down past Lukas Kruse.

Paderborn missed a great chance to restore their two-goal lead when Rafa's point-blank range header was tipped away by Casteels.

They missed another opportunity to increase their lead on 71 minutes when a header from Elias Kachunga was also saved by the Werder stopper.

Bremen punished their opponents' wasted chances by equalising with 15 remaining when Izet Hajrovic's strike from the edge of the box beat Kruse.

Paderborn's bid for victory suffered a further blow when Michael Heinloth was dismissed for a second bookable offence following his challenge on Felix Kroos, and they were forced to settle for a draw which leaves them below Hamburg on goal difference and one point behind Hannover.