Pescara sink to the bottom

Cristiano Bergodi got a sense of the task he faces at Pescara after a 1-0 defeat to Roma saw them slip to the bottom.

Cristiano Bergodi got a sense of the task he faces at Pescara after defeat at home to Roma saw his side slip to the bottom of Serie A. Pescara turned to their former defender after Giovanni Stroppa resigned in the wake of a 1-0 defeat at Siena, a result that saw them drop into the bottom three. And another 1-0 loss today, coupled with Siena's 0-0 draw at Chievo, means Pescara prop up the table on goal difference. Roma got off to the perfect start at the Stadio Adriatico, with Michael Bradley curling a shot just wide after four minutes. And the visitors were in front seconds later when Francesco Totti's shot from outside the area was well saved by Mattia Perin, only for Mattia Destro to be left with a simple tap-in. Totti then tried his luck with a long-range free-kick which Perin opted to punch clear, before Pescara threatened for the first time with 25 minutes on the clock. Juan Quintero beat several Roma defenders before shooting from outside the area, but watched as his shot went wide and failed to trouble goalkeeper Mauro Goicoechea. At the other end, Destro almost had his second of the game from close range only to be denied by a superb reflex save from Perin, while Totti fired over the bar with the last chance of the first half. Roma also had the first chance of the second period as Alessandro Florenzi fired inches wide, and they should have been 2-0 up on 49 minutes after two good chances for Destro went begging. There was precious little respite for the home side as Totti's 57th-minute shot skimmed the post, while 10 minutes later Miralem Pjanic fired over the bar from long range. Pescara finally managed to summon up a late rally and Elvis Abbruscato shot narrowly wide on 83 minutes and brought a good save from Goicoechea four minutes later, but Roma deservedly held on for the win.