Chievo 1 Cagliari 0: Riccardo Meggiorini nets the only goal in victory

Chievo beat relegation-threatened Cagliari on Wednesday evening to ensure themselves of Serie A football next season.

Riccardo Meggiorini struck the only goal of the game at the Marc' Antonio Bentegodi stadium in the 11th minute to hand Chievo three vital points and push Cagliari closer to the drop.

Cagliari had two players sent off late in the game to complete another miserable night.

Defender Nicola Murru was shown a straight red in the 84th minute for a dangerous foul on Chievo's Mariano Izco while substitute Andrea Cossu was given his marching orders four minutes later for a second bookable offence.

The victory, Chievo's fourth at home this season, has allowed the Flying Donkeys to reach the 40-point mark - 16 clear of the drop zone with five games remaining.

Cagliari remain in 18th place and eight points from safety.

The visitors went into the game brimming with confidence after winning 3-1 at Fiorentina on Sunday to secure their first triumph since January 24.

Chievo sent an early warning when Bostjan Cesar's close-range header went just wide of the far post.

The hosts then went ahead through a fast break as Alberto Paloschi set up Meggiorini in the area and his angled shot beat Cagliari goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic.

Chievo twice had the chance to double their advantage after the half-hour mark.

Meggiorini's header from Nicolas Frey's cross went off target, while seconds later, Valter Birsa's 15-yard effort flew wide.

Cagliari finally put a good move together in the 37th minute.

Francesco Pisano's cross found Duje Cop in the box but his six-yard strike was saved by Chievo goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri.

At the other end, Alberto Paloschi headed Ezequiel Schelotto's dangerous cross over the bar.

Cagliari coach Gianluca Festa made his first substitution after the re-start with Daniele Conti replacing Joao Pedro in midfield.

Both sides struggled to find their rhythm in attack.

In the 72nd minute, Cagliari's Diego Farias had his goal-bound attempt from 15 yards blocked by a Chievo defender.

Brkic kept Cagliari in the game when he denied Ruben Botta, who had struck a hard drive from 30 yards with five minutes remaining.

The visitors, suffering from numerical inferiority, could not find the equaliser and suffered their 19th loss of the campaign.