A spirited AS Roma side put on a convincing attacking display to earn a 3-1 victory over Bologna and snap a three-match losing streak.
Fabio Capello's side pushed forward from the start coming close early on with efforts from Brazlian Cafu and strikers Marco Delvecchio and Vincenzo Montella.
Diminutive forward Montella took advantage of a poor defensive clearance to slot home from inside the six yard box in the 36th minute for the Roma lead.
The home side continued to pile on the pressure but three minutes from halftime defender Vincent Candela was caught flat-footed allowing Giuseppe Signori to volley home a Julio Cruz cross for the equaliser.
Deep into first half stoppage time, midfielder Olivier Dacourt -- on loan from Leeds -- was unlucky to see his fine effort shave the post.
ROMA CONVINCE
Roma kept up their relentless attack and were rewarded eight minutes after the restart when defender Michele Paramatti was adjudged to have handled a Cafu cross in the box.
Captain Francesco Totti's spot kick was brilliantly saved by keeper Gianluca Pagliuca but Delvecchio was quick to turn in the parried shot to regain the lead.
Totti tried to restore his credibility moments later bringing out another fine save from the overworked Pagliuca.
But on 73 minutes a rare mistake by the Bologna keeper allowed substitute Antonio Cassano the easiest of tap-ins to secure a morale-boosting victory for Roma.
The win leaves Roma ninth on 26 points, only two behind seventh placed Bologna.
CONSTANT THREAT
In an earlier match, Brescia, with Roberto Baggio inspirational, stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches with a 4-1 away drubbing of struggling Piacenza.
The "divine pony-tail" scored one goal, hit the post and proved a constant threat to Piacenza's defence.
Brescia went ahead after seven minutes when midfielder Stephan Appiah blasted home Baggio's pass from just outside the box.
Ten minutes later Piacenza deservedly pulled level thanks to a spectacular overhead kick from striker Dario Hubner, his third goal of the season.
Piacenza, with only one point in 10 matches, were in dire need of a win, but it was Brescia who dominated possession and created most of the chances.
After Luca Toni missed a sitter on 32 minutes the visitors regained the lead when Baggio scored with a thumping volley that even had the Piacenza fans clapping the ex-Italy international.
Two minutes after the restart, Toni made no mistake to make it 3-1, slotting home a Baggio through ball past keeper Matteo Guardalben.
Baggio then struck the post with a free-kick before substitute Igly Tare sealed an emphatic victory two minutes from time.
Piacenza remain third from bottom while Brescia continue their climb to safety. The Lombardian club are now 12th with 22 points, level with Empoli.
