Palermo 3-0 Fiorentina

Palermo romped to a convincing victory to boost their European hopes at the expense of Fiorentina's.

A first-half brace from Abel Hernandez was followed by an Igor Budan strike just before the hour mark as Palermo dominated to maintain their unbeaten home record and move up to fifth in the table.

It was no less than they deserved from a match they took control of very early on.

There were only three minutes on the clock when Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastian Frey was first called into action, needing to get a good touch on Mattia Cassani's shot from a tight angle to push it away.

Moments later, Javier Pastore wasted a great chance for the hosts as he narrowly failed to connect with Cassani's cross when in a great position.

Fiorentina got a free-kick in a good position in the left channel in the 10th minute, but Adrian Mutu failed to really test Salvatore Sirigu with a shot that was too close to the goalkeeper.

Palermo were soon back on the attack, with Cassani looking particularly dangerous.

He beat Marco Donadel down the right before cutting in and shooting left-footed, but Frey pushed the ball away before his defence completed the clearance.

Hernandez then got a first look at goal in the 24th minute as his pace and direct running upset the Fiorentina defence.

However, he scuffed his shot to allow Frey to save.

But there was nothing the goalkeeper could do four minutes later.

Fabrizio Miccoli turned and shot on the edge of the area and was desperately unlucky to see the ball crash back off the crossbar.

But Hernandez was on hand to head in the rebound.

Frey had to then turn away a Miccoli shot as Palermo continued to attack, and they got their second in the 38th minute.

Hernandez latched on to a lovely through-ball from Pastore, beating the offside trap before coolly dispatching the ball past Frey.

The first half ended with Frey in the action again, saving a dangerous shot from Miccoli.

Fiorentina had failed to show as an attacking force in the first half, but at least came out for the second 45 minutes showing a little more intent.

A good move from the visitors culminated in a shooting chance for Alberto Gilardino in the 48th minute, but he fired over when he should have done better.

Moments later, substitute Marco Marchionni tested Sirigu from the edge of the area, and then Riccardo Montolivo fired just wide after cutting in from the left.

But for all their early attacking intent, it was Palermo who got the next goal, coming in the 58th minute when Liverani headed a free-kick back across goal and the substitute Budan turned to flick the ball into the right-hand corner of the net.

Palermo then effectively shut up shop as the final half hour passed almost without incident.

Fiorentina substitute Stevan Jovetic threatened in the 86th minute but could not find a way to beat Sirigu, and then Mutu fired wide from a good position in the final minute of the match.