A goal from debutant Samir ended a four-game winless run for bottom-placed Hellas Verona away at Bologna this evening.

The visitors went into the clash without a victory since February 20, but tonight's triumph has moved them to within six points of safety.

Without main centre-forward Luca Toni, who was dropped for recent derogatory comments made about his teammates, the visitors had to look elsewhere for a goalscoring impact.

Juanito Gomez should have provided it in the 30th minute, but from six yards out he turned the ball wide of the post.

However, there were no such problems for loanee defender Samir three minutes before the break. Federico Viviani swung over a corner and the Granada-owned defender rose highest to power in a header.

The home side's best chance of an equaliser after the restart fell to on-loan Sunderland midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini, but he nodded over the crossbar.