Parma 3 - 1 Siena - Donadoni off to winning start

Sebastian Giovinco put the seal on an encouraging start to Roberto Donadoni's reign as manager of Parma as Siena were beaten 3-1.

Former Italy boss Donadoni took charge at the Ennio Tardini stadium this week, inheriting a side standing 15th in Serie A after just five wins from 17 matches.

The visit of a Siena side that thumped Lazio 4-0 last week was sure to ask questions of his new charges, particularly as Parma were drubbed 5-0 by Inter Milan in their last outing - the result which saw Donadoni's predecessor Franco Colomba lose his job.

Parma had just one victory in their last eight games heading into today's match, but they were deserved winners, with goals from Jonathan Biabiany and Francesco Valiani giving them a useful lead before Paolo Grossi struck for Siena.

Italy international Giovinco threatened in the early stages, seeing a shot heading for the top left corner well saved by Gianluca Pegolo in the seventh minute.

The same player cracked a shot over the bar from a free-kick 30 yards out after 22 minutes.

Parma's breakthrough came two minutes later as Biabiany reacted sharpest of all to put the finishing touches to a free-kick from Giovinco.

Cristiano Del Grosso fired over the Siena crossbar as the home side ended the half in the ascendancy.

Mattia Destro had a chance to level for Siena just before the hour mark but got his shot hopelessly wrong after being played in by Franco Brienza.

It was 2-0 in the 66th minute as Giovinco crossed and Valiani headed into the bottom left corner.

Left-back Massimo Gobbi threatened to get in on the goalscoring action but rifled his shot from outside the penalty area over the crossbar.

There were tense moments for the home side when Siena pulled a goal back in the 79th minute, as Simone Vergassola set up Grossi for a shot and his strike found the right corner.

Giovinco, having been the architect earlier, showed a clinical touch himself in stoppage time when Raffaele Palladino laid on the chance and he tucked the ball in from close range at the right post.