Speaking after yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Siena, Francesco Guidolin thinks that Parma have almost recovered from their recent rough period of form.

“We knew playing Siena was going to be difficult as they are in fine form at the moment, but we are finally finding some continuity in our performances.”

“I am happy with the performance we created a number of great scoring chances and we were unlucky not to extend our lead before they equalised.”

“We have found our rhythm again and we definitely possess the quality to meet and exceed our goals for the season which has always been safety from relegation.”

“Parma are more than capable of playing well against any of the teams around us we just have to continue to going about playing our own game and the results will come.”

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Siena fought back to earn a draw against Parma this afternoon in a match which saw Parma once again reduced to ten men.

The home side came close to opening the scoring on the half hour mark when Tzolsis hit the crossbar from a Reginaldo corner kick.

However it was Parma who broke the deadlock four minutes later when Biabiany rose to meet Valiani’s cross with a header into the bottom corner.

Biabiany then nearly set Morrone up for Parma’s second but he blasted the shot over still leaving Parma in front at half time.

Morrone again came close to adding Parma’s second after the break but his shot was just tipped over the crossbar.

Siena however finally equalised with twenty minutes to go when Vergassola met Larondo’s pullback to score from nine yards out.

Luis Jimenez managed to get himself sent off for a second bookable offense after just returning from a two match ban which meant that Parma had to settle for the draw.

SIENA: Curci; Rosi, Odibe (Larrondo 46), Pratali (Fini 85), Cribari; Del Grosso; Vergassola, Tziolis, Ghezzal (Calaio’ 52), Reginaldo; Maccarone

PARMA: Mirante; Zaccardo, Dellafiore, Paci, Lucarelli; Valiani (Antonelli 73), Morrone, Galloppa; Biabiany (Bojinov 84), Jimenez; Crespo (Zenoni 82)

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Parma striker Hernan Crespo returned to training yesterday having fully recovered from an injury picked up during Sunday’s 1-0 win against Sampdoria.

Crespo’s return will slightly ease Francesco Guidolin’s selection worries with doubts still over Biabiany who sat out of his U21 international midweek.

Valeri Bojinov may also have recovered in time from his international duty with Bulgaria.

Davide Lanzafame is still suspended but Luis Jimenez will be available having served his two match suspension.

Parma manager Francesco Guidolin faces a number of team selection problems ahead of this weekends clash with Siena.

Davide Lanzafame will be unavailable having picked up a suspension for uttering “blasphemous remarks” being one of the first to fall foul of the new rule.

There are question marks over the fitness of both Jonathan Biabiany and Hernan Crespo, the latter only lasting thirty minutes against Sampdoria.

Also Valeri Bojinov is on international duty with Bulgaria and it’s unsure whether he’ll have recovered enough in time.

Parma now look to have same problems as Sampdoria when they travel to the Montepaschi Arena in a few days time.

Parma players issued a press silence following this afternoons 1-0 victory against Sampdoria declaring it as an insult to the fans to take the victory as something that solves everything.

However Parma manager Francesco Guidolin did make a few comments following the match:

“It’s a major boost to the teams morale to get a victory after so long but things are far from fixed, we still have a lot of work to do to get the extra seven points we need.”

“I hope we can build on this positive result and finally achieve safety from relegation and stop the fans from worrying.”

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Christian Zaccardo’s third goal of the season gave Parma their first win of 2010, against Sampdoria this afternoon.

Parma started strongly having a goal disallowed in the opening minutes along with efforts from Valiani and Biabiany.

Hernan Crespo picked up an injury and had to be replaced on the half hour mark by Valeri Bojinov whose  snapshot immediately caused Storari some problems.

Straight after the restart Parma had another goal disallowed with Bojinov straying into an offside position.

Parma finally got the opening goal on 54 minutes through Zaccardo. Cutting back past his marker and hitting the ball across the face of the goal and into the far bottom corner.

The referee awarded Sampdoria a penalty after Daniele Galloppa bundled Mannini over in the area but changed his mind after consulting with the fourth official.

Parma were put under pressure for the remainder of the game but hung on to record their first win since December 13th.

PARMA: Mirante; Zaccardo, Dellafiore, Paci, Lucarelli; Valiani. Morrone, Galloppa; Biabiany, Lanzafame (Antonelli 67), Crespo (Bojinov 34)

SAMPDORIA: Storari; Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Ziegler; Semioli, Palombo, Poli (Tissone 76), Guberti (Testardi 59); Mannini; Scepovic (Padalino 82)

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Paloschi and Dzemaili still have long term injuries and Jimenez is serving the last match of his two match suspension.

Sampdoria Match Squad

Goalkeepers: Mirante, Pavarini, Russo
Defenders: Antonelli, Castellini, Dellafiore, Lucarelli, Paci, Zaccardo, Zenoni
Midfielders: Galassi, Galloppa, Lunardini, Morrone, Valiani
Forwards: Biabiany, Bojinov, Crespo, Lanzafame, Pasi

Veteran defender Christian Panucci has reportedly ended his contract with Parma with immediate effect.

Following Parma’s 2-0 defeat to Cagliari at the weekend Panucci met with president Tommaso Ghirardi to ask to be let go from his contract 4 months early.

Panucci cited serious family issues for the reason behind terminating his contract and will also be retiring from the game.

The news comes as a further blow to Parma’s season who are already deep in crisis having picked up a measly 2 points from the last 9 games.

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Cagliari made short work of Parma continuing their run of form by running out 2-0 winners this afternoon. Parma are now without a win since December 13 as pressure begins to mount on Francesco Guidolin.

Parma got off to a dismal start with Cagliari having a goal disallowed after only two minutes when Alessandro Matri’s effort was flagged offside.

However Cagliari got the breakthrough just four minutes late when Lazarri’s cross took a deflection off Christian Zaccardo and into the net.

Parma finally created a chance on the half hour when Morrone’s cutback was met by Valiani whose effort smashed against the post.

Cagliari doubled their lead five minutes before halftime with another cross from the left as Matri met Nene’s cross with a glancing header.

Parma failed to create any clearcut chances in the second half with Biabiany’s header skimming the crossbar and Agazzi keeping out efforts from Antonelli and Crespo.

Zaccardo prevented it from becoming a rout denying Joaquin Larrivey with a superb goal line clearance.

CAGLIARI: Agazzi; Canini, Ariaudo, Astori, Agostini; Barone, Conti, Lazzari (Parola 71); Cossu; Nenè (Larrivey 80), Matri (Jeda 62)

PARMA: Mirante; Paci, Zaccardo, Lucarelli; Zenoni, Valiani, Lunardini (Galloppa 46), Morrone, Castellini (Antonelli 46); Biabiany (Bojinov 61), Crespo

Mirante has recovered from an injury picked up earlier in the week but Christian Panucci is still on the treatment table along with Alberto Paloschi.

Valiani returns after serving his suspension against Inter however Luis Jimenez is unavailable due to his two match suspension.

Cagliari Match Squad

Goalkeepers: Mirante, Pavarini, Russo
Defenders: Antonelli, Castellini, Dellafiore, Lucarelli, Paci, Zaccardo, Zenoni
Midfielders: Galassi, Galloppa, Lunardini, Morrone, Valiani
Forwards: Biabiany, Bojinov, Crespo, Lanzafame