| Luigi Del Neri's days are numbered on the Palermo bench after Erjon Bogdani's hat-trick sealed a shock 3-1 home defeat to Siena. Del Neri's job was still on the line following their 3-0 defeat at Inter, so a win against Siena was essential to avoid sliding into the wrong end of the table. The Tuscans have a terrible away record, earning just one point on their travels in the last three months, and had to do without Tomas Locatelli, Jonathan Bachini and Daniele Gastaldello. The Sicilians had Stephen Makinwa on African Cup of Nations duty, but welcomed Eugenio Corini back from injury.
Fabio Grosso was unlucky early on when his promising scoring opportunity was halted by a debatable offside flag.
Surprisingly, it was Siena who took the lead on the half-hour mark. Roberto D'Aversa combined brilliantly with Erjon Bogdani, who placed a delicate finish past Cristiano Lupatelli. It was Siena's first Serie A goal since the 2-2 draw at Livorno on January 15.
David Di Michele was brought down on the very edge of the box moments later and Corini curled his free kick over the bar. Marco Fortin, picked after Antonio Mirante's uncertainties against Milan, also smothered a Di Michele strike.
Palermo had penalty appeals when Nicola Legrottaglie appeared to handle a Mariano Gonzalez cross inside the area, but referee Paolo Dondarini waved play on, considering it more a clumsy intervention than an intentional one.
Yet the visitors could've made it 2-0 before the break, as Bogdani clipped the outside of the post from a tight angle.
Following the restart, Palermo were pouring forward. An acrobatic Christian Terlizzi volley stung the palms of Fortin from close range. Del Neri threw on Denis Godeas and Franco Brienza for Andrea Caracciolo and Gonzalez.
However, Siena doubled their lead with Bogdani's fifth goal of the season. Palermo have shown real difficulties defending from set-pieces and Bogdani rose to nod in a Matteo Paro free kick from seven yards.
The Sicilians really should've got a goal back soon after, but Fortin spread himself to close down Di Michele when he sprung the offside trap and the defence managed to clear at the last moment.
Siena sealed up the incredible victory by taking advantage of another woeful defensive error. Bogdani was left totally unmarked at the back post for a looping header into the top corner, completing his hat-trick. The Rosanero defence tried - and failed - to set the offside trap and were left stranded.
Palermo gave themselves hope of getting something from this game moments later. A Paolo Negro error handed the ball to Di Michele, who rolled across for Godeas to tap in his first goal in a pink jersey.
The home side wasted another good chance to re-open the match, as Di Michele turned a free kick back across the face of goal and none of his teammates were ready to tap in.
Di Michele brought a fantastic save out of Fortin, who flew to palm his right-foot strike round the far post with an outstretched hand.
Former Udinese striker Di Michele was the last to give in and his header skimmed the woodwork. Meanwhile, the tension rose in the Stadio Renzo Barbera and the fans split between those hurling abuse at the team and those trying to defend them.
| 
