Cagliari - Chievo preview - Dessena demands commitment

Posted Sunday, December 07, 2014 by PA

Cagliari midfielder Daniele Dessena has urged his team-mates to give their all against Chievo on Monday as they look to clinch their first win at home this season.

The Sardinian outfit has collected eight of its 11 points on the road but has mustered just three points -all from draws- of a possible 18 at the Stadio Sant'Elia.

Last weekend's 4-0 defeat at home to Fiorentina extended Cagliari's winless run in Serie A to five games and dropped Zdenek Zeman's side to16th place, two spots and one point clear of the drop zone.

"We really need to end the rot at home," Dessena told the Italian media. "I hope that on Monday we will do so.

"It's important that we start getting results at home in order to climb up in the standings.

"We certainly need to improve with respect to our performances in recent games.

"It will not be easy because Chievo is a difficult rival but I'm sure we will all give our best to win."

Cagliari were fortunate to progress to the last 16 of the Coppa Italia on Thursday after beating Modena on penalties following a 4-4 home draw.

Zeman's men have struggled at the back and not since their 4-0 triumph at Empoli in late October have they succeeded in keeping a clean sheet.

Chievo, meanwhile, head into the encounter in Sardinia riding a four-match unbeaten streak.

The Gialloblu held Lazio to a goalless draw last weekend and are 18th in the standings, just one point adrift of safety.

"We know we have to continue to improve but to have taken a point against Lazio is a good result for us," Chievo coach Rolando Maran said. "We are doing well but we can do much better, we just need to have confidence in our game."

Maran will have all of his players available for the encounter as the Flying Donkeys look for their second win on the road.