Chievo 0 : 0 Genoa - Cesar sees red in stalemate

Posted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by PA

Chievo and Genoa remain locked together on the same number of points after sharing the spoils in a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bertegodi.

In a tame encounter, the hosts had to play the final 22 minutes with only 10 men after losing Bostjan Cesar to a red card, but the visitors were unable to take advantage as they failed to find the back of the net for the sixth time in 10 games since Davide Ballardini took over from Gianpiero Gasperini.

Chievo, meanwhile, have now drawn their last four home matches.

Given Genoa's recent form with only seven goals in their last 11 games, and with Chievo having only found the back of the net twice in their last five games, an entertaining game was not expected.

And the first 45 minutes illustrated how much difficulty both clubs have had in finding the back of the net recently with only one chance of note.

Marco Rossi missed it for Genoa as he decided to try and score with an unlikely header when he would have been better off choosing to meet a right-wing cross with his foot in the seventh minute.

Not much changed in the second half either with the home side missing their best chance in the 53rd minute when Sergio Pellissier was blocked by Giandomenico Mesto as he was about to shoot.

Fifteen minutes later and the home side were reduced to 10 men when Cesar was shown his second yellow card for a foul on Rodrigo Palacio.

However, the visitors failed to take advantage and, apart from a shot from Bosko Jankovic in the final 10 minutes, they never threatened to win back the three points they lost at home to Chievo earlier this season.

The result leaves both clubs close to the danger zone at the bottom of the table with 24 points, only five more than 18th-placed Cesena who occupy the final relegation spot.

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