Parma 0-2 Lazio

Edy Reja enjoyed a dream start at the helm of Lazio after inspiring his new charges to a win at Parma.

Reja took over on Wednesday after the Biancoceleste board finally lost patience with Davide Ballardini following the 1-0 defeat to Catania last weekend.

His brief was simple: keep the club in Serie A. And that aim will be achieved sooner rather than later if they can turn in similar displays to the one they produced at the Stadio Ennio Tardini this afternoon.

After surviving a few nervy moments in the first half, they grew in stature after the break and went ahead after 68 minutes through Guglielmo Stendardo.

Parma's hopes of getting back into it were derailed due to Luis Jimenez's dismissal and Lazio sealed just their second away win of the season when Mauro Zarate struck with two minutes to go.

The visitors were on the back foot in the early stages as Parma swarmed forward.

And the hosts had a shout for a penalty in the third minute when Jimenez went down under a challenge from Giuseppe Biava but their appeals were turned down.

Two minutes later, Christian Panucci came close with a header from Daniele Galloppa's corner.

Jimenez, on loan from Inter Milan after seeing a temporary spell at West Ham cut short, was causing Lazio problems and he next teed up Massimo Paci for a shot which was well blocked.

It took Lazio 20 minutes to create a chance of note and even then Christian Brocchi's 25-yard drive was comfortable for Parma keeper Antonio Mirante.

Parma are without a win in 2010 but impressed in a midweek draw against defending champions Inter and ought to have gone ahead here after 22 minutes.

Luca Antonelli burst into the area before squaring for Jonathan Biabiany. The striker appeared to have the simplest of tasks to fire home but somehow shot wide from close range.

Biabiany tried to redeem himself on the half-hour mark with a dribble into the box but his attempted cutback to Valeri Bojinov was blocked by Stendardo.

Parma continued to offer the greater threat going forward at the start of the second half as well, Jimenez teeing up Antonelli for a shot on goal which produced a fabulous save from Lazio keeper Fernando Muslera.

Muslera excelled once again in the 56th minute after Biabiany wriggled clear of three defenders before firing in a powerful shot which required a smart save.

Having absorbed so much Parma pressure, Lazio emerged from their defensive shell as the half wore on and could count themselves unfortunate not to have grabbed the lead shortly after the hour mark.

Stendardo's header from a corner produced a great save from Mirante. The rebound fell to Sergio Floccari whose effort seemed to be over the line before Paci intervened.

The referee and his assistant ruled no goal even though television replays suggested the officials had got it wrong.

Lazio did make the breakthrough two minutes later, however, with Stendardo again rising highest in the area to power home an unstoppable header.

Jimenez did his team no favours after 73 minutes by needlessly picking up a red card for a verbal volley at the referee although the 10 men did come close to an equaliser three minutes later, Biabiany heading straight at Muslera.

Lazio survived the scare and doubled their lead in the closing stages.

Floccari whipped in a low cross and substitute Zarate converted with his right foot.