Chievo 1-0 Palermo

Palermo coach Delio Rossi got a reminder of the task in front of him as he lost his first match in charge of the club at Chievo.

Rossi had seen his team thrash Serie B's Reggina 4-1 in midweek in the Coppa Italia, but just in case he thought things were going to be straightforward, he was brought back to earth today.

Elvis Abbruscato got the only goal after 56 minutes to settle a game in which Palermo created chances without truly worrying Chievo.

A disappointing afternoon for the visitors was completed in the 90th minute when Fabio Liverani was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Palermo had begun brightly, showing off some of the new confidence in the side since Rossi's arrival earlier in the week.

Antonio Nocerino crossed for Fabio Simplicio, but Stefano Sorretino kept out the close-range effort.

At the other end, Giampiero Pinzi drilled a shot goalwards, but Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu made a great save to keep the shot out.

Chievo continued to push forward, with Simone Bentivoglio's header just wide from a 21st minute free-kick.

Moments later, the midfielder took a set piece himself and cleared the wall only to watch the shot go narrowly over.

Bentivoglio then clashed with Liverani as the Palermo man earned himself his first yellow card.

Palermo continued to see flashes of goal, but Stefano Morero made a great challenge to nick the ball away from Simplicio just as he shaped to shoot following a fine cross from Mattia Cassani.

Chievo were playing the better football, however, and Abbruscato almost capped a fine move in the 28th minute but saw his shot saved by Sirigu.

Abbruscato then turned provider, but Bentivoglio missed what should have been an easy finish as he failed to make proper contact.

It was against the run of play when Edison Cavani grazed the Chievo post with a good shot from the left-hand side of the area, just two minutes before half-time.

Mark Bresciano repeated the trick early in the second half, with his shot from 15 yards skimming the post.

But moments later Chievo were ahead, with Abbruscato picking up the pieces after Davide Mandelli's header was parried by Sirigu, firing a volley into the net.

Simplicio had a fine chance to equalise for Palermo just after the hour mark, but when all alone in front of goal he was denied by a fine save from Sorrentino.

Morero then appeared to handle inside the Chievo area, but Palermo's howls for a penalty were denied, with Fabrizio Miccoli instead receiving a yellow card.

Sergio Pellissier then wasted a pair of decent chances for Chievo, failing the hit the target as Palermo's hopes remained alive.

However, their challenge was finally ended as the game moved into injury time, with Liverani chopping down Bentivoglio to earn a second yellow card.