Palermo have given their survival hopes a huge boost this afternoon by proving too strong for Roma in Serie A.

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The tone for an attacking clash was set in the first five minutes as Jasmin Kurtic and Alessandro Florenzi went close at their end.

Fabrizio Miccoli then crashed a free kick off the crossbar as the home side threatened from distance.

Palermo took the lead soon after when Josip Ilicic fired home after meeting a precise pass from Miccoli in the penalty area.

A clever passing move saw the Pink and Blacks double their advantage before the break.

Andrea Dossena and Ilicic exchanged passes before finding Miccoli, who applied a composed finish with the outside of his right foot.

Francesco Totti failed to orchestrate a response for the visitors in the match which marked his 20th anniversary at the club.

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Miralem Pjanic were both introduced but Palermo kept a rare clean sheet to keep their fight against relegation alive.