Dortmund went in front as Heidenheim couldn't clear a corner and Serhou Guirassy scored from close range.

It was the Guinean striker's fifth goal in his last four games and followed a double in the Champions League in midweek against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Heidenheim came into the contest without a win in their previous 14 league games and occupying the relegation play-off position.

The game remained tight until the 63rd minute when Ramy Bensebaini drilled a low cross in from the left and substitute Max Beier made a difficult finish look easy.

Dortmund became their own worst enemies, conceding 18 seconds after the restart. Frans Kraetzig found space down the left and cut back for Mathias Honsak, whose first-time finish cut Dortmund's lead in half.

Dortmund held firm and weathered some late pressure to pick up a first league win since December 22, snapping a four-game winless streak in the Bundesliga.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Germany international Tim Kleindienst scored a late winner for Borussia Moenchengladbach in a 2-1 victory at Stuttgart.

Gladbach led when Frenchman Nathan N'Goumou rifled into the roof of the net but a Nico Elvedi own goal soon after the break levelled the contest.

But a slick Gladbach counter-attack saw Lukas Ullrich pick out Kleindienst, who tapped in the winner.

Freiburg picked up a 1-0 win at bottom-placed Bochum, with another Frenchman, Kiliann Sildillia, nodding in a corner for his first Bundesliga goal.

St Pauli were denied victory when Augsburg teenager Mert Komur struck late to ensure a 1-1 draw.