Cesena's Serie A future is looking even bleaker after they were beaten 2-0 by Fiorentina to see the gap between themselves and safety increase to nine points.
An own goal by Vangelis Moras and a Matija Nastasic strike earned all three points for Fiorentina, who got a much-needed win to take them six points clear of the relegation zone.
However, the performance by the Viola will have done little to warm the hearts of the Florentine spectators, who will hope for better at Parma on Wednesday when they have the chance to move into the top eight.
Fiorentina's recent form has seen them slide down the table with the pressure mounting on coach Delio Rossi.
The pressure seemed also to be getting to the players as they struggled to impose themselves on the game with only a lob from Andrea Lazzari to show in a tight first half.
They also lost their most creative outlet in Stevan Jovetic after just 20 minutes, with injury cutting short the Montenegrin's involvement.
With no more openings before the interval, the home fans made their feelings clear by booing their side off the field of play.
Cesena's first real chance of the game came in the 50th minute when Gianluca Comotto beat the offside trap, but Artur Boruc made a good save to deny him.
Fiorentina went in front after just over an hour's play when Riccardo Montolivo spread play out wide to Manuel Pasqual, whose cross was diverted into his own goal by Moras.
Mattia Cassani was denied by Francesco Antonioli as Fiorentina threatened asecond in the 73rd minute.
They got the goal which gave them more breathing space just a minute later when Nastasic scored with a low shot at the far post as Cesena failed to clear a corner.
It was almost three just a handful of minutes later as the home side started to play with more confidence having shaken off their earlier fear, but Antonioli denied Alessio Cerci's diagonal shot to save Cesena from further damage.
