Francesco Totti's second-half strike earned Roma a 1-0 victory over Serie A leaders Juventus on Saturday evening.
The former Italy playmaker unleashed an unstoppable winner in the 58th minute to lift the Eternal City club within six points of fifth-placed Inter Milan.
The result meant Juve's five-point advantage at the summit could be cut when second-placed Napoli host Sampdoria on Sunday.
In Saturday night's other game in the Italian top flight, Palermo moved off the foot of the table thanks to a 1-1 draw at Chievo in a game of two contrasting halves at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.
The Rosaneri took the lead in the fifth minute through Mauro Formica and it was a one-sided opening 45 minutes in which Palermo failed only to add a second goal.
Chievo responded well in the second half, though, and equalised through Cyril Thereau's penalty.
Peter Hartley's late header cancelled out Martin Rowland's seventh-minute penalty opener. Then, four minutes into five minutes of injury time, substitute Luke James drilled in a low volley to make it 2-1 to the hosts and complete the most unlikely of turnarounds at Victoria Park.
"It's a disappointing changing room for sure, it was in our hands - we didn't deserve to lose," Slade said.
"We created chance after chance and paid the price for not taking them. We were one up and, if they were going to score it was a set-piece - they are hugely physical and we didn't deal with it.
"How did it happen? How do I know. We've not picked up, not marked.
"There's no easy way out of it. Hartlepool didn't deserved to win the football match."
