Palermo 1-0 Siena

Palermo maintained their impressive form under new coach Delio Rossi with a narrow win over Siena.

The Sicilian giants went into their final match before the winter break fresh from last weekend's 2-0 victory away at AC Milan.

Siena are also improving, though, with successive wins over Catania and Udinese lifting them away from the foot of the table.

However, that is exactly where they find themselves tonight after Edison Cavani netted the winner at La Favorita and Catania claimed a surprise 2-1 victory at Juventus.

Rossi replaced Walter Zenga at the helm of Palermo last month.

And, despite enduring a 1-0 defeat at Chievo in his first league game in charge, the former Lazio tactician appears to have turned things around at the club.

Victories over Cagliari and Milan had seen the Rossaneri climb to 13th in the standings and three points today lifted them into seventh, a point and a place off the European spots.

Siena were immediately on the attack and leading scorer Massimo Maccarone found himself with a sight of goal but his header was off target from close range.

The former Middlesbrough striker had another opening shortly afterwards but he could not capitalise on good build-up play from Cristiano Del Grosso and Emanuele Calaio.

Palermo threatened for the first time in the eighth minute, Cavani crossing for Fabio Simplicio, whose volley sailed just wide.

Cavani then forced a good save from visiting keeper Gianluca Curci with a low shot after he had been played in by Simplicio's sublime backheel, with Fabrizio Miccoli missing the target from the rebound.

Siena were giving as good as they got, though, and they went close twice in quick succession. First Aleandro Rosi's long-range effort flew past the post before Maccarone fired in a cross that somehow evaded all his team-mates.

Maccarone was clearly in the mood to add to his five goals this season and he drew a good save from Salvatore Sirigu with a stinging shot.

At the other end, Mark Bresciano seized on a bad mistake from Claudio Terzi but his shot was well kept out by Curci.

An eventful match finally produced a goal five minutes before half-time thanks to a solo effort from Cavani, who beat Terzi and then Curci with a drilled shot.

Mattia Cassani nearly doubled the lead while Siena had another chance on the stroke of half-time but Calaio's header was off target.

The second half began with Miccoli shooting wide when one on one with Curci, and they were almost made to pay in the 59th minute when Del Grosso hit a post from outside the area.

Siena piled on the pressure but that left them vulnerable at the back and a speedy Palermo counter-attack ended with Cavani firing wide.

Sirigu then came to the hosts' rescue with a super save from Maccarone after he latched on to a great cross from Michele Paolucci.

Igor Budan should have made sure of the points but shot over while the final chance fell to Javier Pastore, who fired just over.