Scorers: Montella 59, 68 (R), Totti 71, 91 (R)

The 'Little Aeroplane' is back and so are Roma as Siena are crushed to get the Giallorossi back on track. Antonio Cassano can also celebrate a poker of assists in this confidence-boosting performance.

Siena meet Roma again just a week after their shock 2-1 Coppa Italia victory at the Stadio Olimpico. The Giallorossi tested out a new 3-4-3 system against Dynamo Kiev midweek and despite their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions, that performance impressed Gigi Del Neri enough to repeat the tactical experiment.

Enrico Chiesa thumped the frame of the goal within 30 seconds of the start, but he had already been correctly flagged offside. That wasn't the situation a minute later, when Ivan Pelizzoli was at full stretch to fingertip his effort round the post.

The early stages were rather hidden amid fog and smoke from the pre-match fireworks, but Roma had a good chance when Traianos Dellas blasted over the bar from close range.

The visibility became so poor after ten minutes that play was halted and the teams went back into the dressing rooms while the smoke bombs and fog dissipated. Despite a 20-minute break, as soon as play resumed a Roma supporter lit another smokebomb and threw it on to the field, but it was put out quickly by Stadium officials.

Francesco Totti's free kick skimmed the woodwork, then Vincenzo Montella's splendid solo run was pulled back for Totti and a crucial Marco Fortin save.

Siena also went close when Enrico Chiesa's set-piece was floated into the box and Stefano Argilli was allowed a free header off target.

Antonio Cassano chipped in a splendid pass and Montella's volley drifted inches wide of the upright, while Simone Perrotta's strike was well held.

Roma really seem to appreciate this new 3-4-3 system and were playing some delightful football, but Chiesa was causing Traianos Dellas a lot of problems and curled a stunning strike just over Pelizzoli's outstretched hand.

Chiesa was wreaking havoc down the left flank and his brilliant low cross reached Alfonso Camorani before a deflection put the ball agonisingly close to the net. A long-range Gianluca Falsini volley wasn't too far away either as Siena began to push back following some early Roma pressure
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Tore Andre Flo scored a brace in last week's Coppa Italia victory against Roma and came on for the second half.

The Giallorossi were pouring forward after the restart and Montella was somehow left unmarked for a header he turned wide of the near post with Fortin in no man's land.

The deadlock was eventually broken on the hour mark with a well-worked team move. Cassano ran down the left and floated in a cross for Montella's close-range header at the back post - his tenth of the campaign - though again the Siena defence was at fault.

Daniele De Rossi was booked for a crunching tackle and will miss the next match against Sampdoria. Totti was disappointing throughout and wasted a golden opportunity on the counter-attack.

The Giallorossi have been relying heavily on Montella this season and the 'Little Aeroplane' struck again soon after. A Totti corner kick was flicked on by Cassano as it was going out for a goalkick and the striker tapped in from four yards.

He should have had a hat-trick less than 60 seconds later with another great Cassano pass, but Montella drilled the finish wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Cassano was again involved in Roma's third goal. He ran on to Amantino Mancini's pass and rolled a perfect ball across for Totti's tap-in from six yards.

Siena refused to give in and Chiesa's header was inches wide before Falsini shook the side-netting from the edge of the box.

Totti did very little throughout, but in stoppages he scored a delightful goal with another Cassano assist. The captain ran on to his young protege's through ball and cheekily chipped it over the goalkeeper.

Siena: Fortin; Nicola, Cirillo, Argilli, Falsini; Camorani (Menegazzo 62), Carparelli (Flo 51), Di Donato (Serafini 73), Vergassola; Pecchia; Chiesa

Roma: Pelizzoli; Panucci, Ferrari, Dellas; Mancini, De Rossi (Aquilani 72), Perrotta, Cufrè; Totti, Cassano, Montella (Candela 81)

Ref: Racalbuto

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Gigi Del Neri has brushed off fan protests and talk of tomorrow’s relegation dogfight with Siena, insisting Roma can still go for a top four finish.


“I honestly didn’t understand why the supporters staged that protest at the training ground this week,” said the Coach. “We played well in Kiev and didn’t allow them to trouble us apart from the two goals. Anyway, only 50 fans complained and we get 60,000 every week at the Stadio Olimpico.”


It has been a tough month for the Giallorossi, who have lost their last four games in all competitions, falling foul of Udinese, Reggina, Dynamo Kiev and Siena.


It is their Coppa Italia opponents Siena who now represent a key moment in their campaign, as the two teams meet again in Serie A on Saturday evening just a week after the 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.


“The Tuscans are a tough team who is very aggressive on home turf. We have to approach them with the same mentality we showed in Kiev, but I won’t hear talk of this being a relegation dogfight. After all, the Champions’ League places aren’t too far away.”


Recent results have left Roma just one point above the drop zone and a defeat to Siena would send them hurtling into the thick of that battle.


Personnel problems also continue to trouble Del Neri, as his players all commented on how much they liked the new 3-4-3 system used in the 2-0 defeat against Dynamo Kiev.


“I don’t know if I’ll use that tactic again,” warned the ex-Chievo boss. “The defence was positioned well and the midfield helped out, but that can be done with a variety of different systems. It’s more to do with a mentality and aggressive approach than how the players are laid out on the field.”


Christian Panucci returns to the fold a month after he was frozen out following a row with Del Neri, but Philippe Mexes and Mido are out of action.


Roma squad:


Gk: Pelizzoli, Zotti

D: Candela, Cufrè, Ferrari, Dellas, Panucci, Scurto, Sartor

M: Aquilani, D’Agostino, Mancini, Perrotta, De Rossi, De Martino

F: Totti, Montella, Cassano, Corvia, Delvecchio

Mexes might not be playing for the game against Siena.



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A small group of Roma fans staged a protest today as a result of the Giallorossi’s disastrous campaign so far.Around 50 supporters turned up at the Fulvio Bernardini training complex to make their feelings known.Fortunately the protest was peaceful even if the tifosi did make it clear that they were unhappy with the lack of results.Roma have now lost their last four games and a number of particular individuals were targeted for abuse by fans.Goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli, Matteo Ferrari, Gaetano D’Agostino and Marco Delvecchio were heavily criticised by many of the Roma faithful.Only Vincenzo Montella, Traianos Dellas and Leandro Cufre were applauded as they left training on Thursday.

Mexes said that he feels bad because he isnt able to show his abilities, he is playing bad. He thinks we need a few wins in a row to get back on track, because our players are afraid on the pitch to conceed goals.

Mexes also said that he has no regrete for choosing to move to Roma this summmer. He also thinks it is not just the fault of the defence, but because the whole team is underperforming. He doesn't understand why our defence keeps on failing, because during training they are realy good, no mistakes and everything goes well. players

At the moment, Roma come first and the National team come second.

Nothing but good words about Del Neri from Mexes.

Mexes also talk about the match against Dynamo Kiev. He felt very gulity for it.

Original source: http://ilmessaggero.caltanet.it/view.php?data=20041122&ediz=01_NAZIONALE&npag=30&file=E.xml&type=STANDARD(In Italian)

Totti, Montella, De Rossi, Mancini, Mexes and Panucci will be rested for tomorrow Champion League game against Dynamo Kiev.

The Giallorossi’s former hero Giuseppe Giannini gives his analysis of their current woes, while Siena suffer a serious injury setback.

“Francesco Totti will remain in the history books and he is the only one who can take Roma out of their funk now,” said the 1990’s symbol of the club.

“To be captain of Roma means representing a city and a group of fans that lives for its colours. There is double the responsibility of other players and if you happen to be a lifelong supporter of the side yourself, that pressure is tripled.”

Giannini wore the Number 10 jersey and refused to leave his hometown club despite offers from more prestigious sides and Totti has always named him as his inspiration. Now ‘Il Principe’ is called to explain what has gone wrong in a Roma team that has already lost nine official games this season – its last three on the trot – and now hovers one point above the relegation zone.

“The danger here is that the team is made up of champions who aren’t used to being in critical situations like this. They hope their talent will get them through, but in these battles you need heart, soul and fire. That is how my Roma got itself out of an embarrassing corner.”

Gigi Del Neri and former Coach Rudi Voller admitted problems controlling the players and a lack of discipline has been a key issue this season.

“There are moments when the most representative players have to speak up and show the youngsters the way forward,” continued Giannini. “Totti can fulfil this role, both for his captaincy and the fact he is the most talented player at the club. Everyone has to prove this is not the real Roma.”

The 2-1 home defeat to Siena in the Coppa Italia left a scar on the Giallorossi, but an even bigger one on the Tuscans.

Andrea Ardito limped off during that game after a crunching tackle from Daniele De Rossi and x-rays have shown a fractured second metatarsal in his right foot. The midfielder will be out of action for between two and three months.

Meanwhile, Del Neri has decided to leave Philippe Mexes, Amantino Mancini and Christian Panucci at home for Tuesday’s trip to face Dynamo Kiev. They are already out of the Champions’ League and it will take nothing short of a miracle to earn that third UEFA Cup spot.

Roma squad: Aquilani, Candela, Cassano, Corvia, Cufrè, Curci, D'Agostino, Dellas, Ferrari, Mido, Montella, Pelizzoli, Perrotta, Sartor, Scurto, Totti, Pipolo, Briotti, De Martino, Virga.

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Gigi Del Neri claims his team is "frightened" of failure after their third consecutive defeat, while the Rodrigo Taddei saga took another twist at the Stadio Olimpico.

“Everything is going wrong for us because we are rushing our moves and clearly scared of making a mistake,” pointed out the Roma boss following their Coppa Italia 2-1 home loss to Siena. "What worries me most is the distinct lack of aggression in our performances. This slide has to end somewhere."

“We aren’t lucky at the moment, but you also have to find an element of luck yourself. In the first half we were embarrassing and there was a slight improvement after the break. Let us hope that with hard work and the pressure from the fans we can find the motivation to get us out of this situation.”

There can be no doubting the Giallorossi are in a crisis now after defeats to Udinese, Reggina and Siena over the last two weeks, but Del Neri has no intention of giving in.

“Here’s hoping that our luck will change and I remind everyone this Coppa Italia result was only the first leg. We have another match to make up for it at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.”

Meanwhile, the meeting with Siena also gave the clubs an opportunity to look at Rodrigo Taddei’s future. The midfielder is suing the Tuscans for breach of contract, as he has been frozen out of the squad since August for refusing to negotiate with a side other than Roma.

“Siena will release Taddei when someone makes an offer for him,” stated President Paolo De Luca. “I have not heard from Roma since a phone call with Director of Sport Franco Baldini in August. In any case, I don’t care where a player who proved himself to be ungrateful ends up. I can certainly say his future is not with us.”