Palermo beat Bologna with ease

Palermo defeated Bologna 3-1 today to maintain their perfect record at home in Serie A. Eran Zehavi, Matias Silvestre and Josip Ilicic scored the goals that sent the Sicilians fifth ahead of Sunday's matches. Palermo have won all five home encounters this season, but away from the Renzo Barbera stadium they have picked up just one point and are yet to score. Zehavi opened the scoring on 13 minutes with his second goal of the season after Bologna goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet spilled Ilicic's shot. Silvestre lost marker Nicolo Cherubin, and kept his concentration despite the defender's blatant attempt to push him, to head home a corner at the back post seven minutes into the second period. Ilicic wrapped up the victory after running onto a through-ball from Ignacio Varela, holding off two defenders and slipping the ball under Gillet. Gaston Ramirez scored a brilliant consolation goal three minutes from time, firing low into the corner following a one-two with Henry Gimenez, whose back-heeled return pass was ingenious. Roma travel to Novara later today, looking to kick-start a season that has stalled with three defeats in their last four games.