If ever a victory were needed to quell unrest at a football club it is by Roma at home to Bologna in Serie A on Sunday.

Roma are just two points above the relegation zone after a disastrous run of results - and in keeping with the tradition of Italian football, no one who can be remotely held responsible in the capital is safe from pressure and criticism.

Few are feeling the heat more, though, than club president Rosella Sensi - whose firefighting this week has included a vow to continue in her post despite the swell of disquiet among supporters.

Answers to tough questions were demanded at a protest during the shareholders' annual meeting on Thursday - and the pointed inquiries included several about good reasons why Sensi should not resign.

Her response was unequivocal.

"I will not quit. We have to keep moving forward," she explained.

"We have to fight for the top four places and progress in the Europa League. No one can deny we have earned credibility in Europe - and the UEFA standings show this."

Sensi appealed too for calm among all Roma fans, who need to do their bit to help the club return to a sound footing on and off the pitch.

"We need our fans behind us, because we are still involved on three fronts," she urged.

"Football is like a family. You need to be together and stay close to the team."

In the circumstances, compliant opponents would be a handy factor for Roma tomorrow - but in fellow strugglers Bologna, that is not necessarily the case.

Despite being only one place above their hosts in the table, Bologna's form has not been entirely dispiriting.

They had been on a three-match losing spree through October but have rarely failed to score - and they finally got their reward with a second win of the campaign against Siena on Wednesday.

Bologna needed that boost, having lost 4-1 at Sampdoria last weekend in their first match since the arrival of new manager Franco Colomba.

But they know if anyone is vulnerable it is Roma, who had already hit something of a new low before their third consecutive defeat in midweek - 2-1 at Udinese.

AC Milan and then bottom club Livorno were the other teams to beat Roma in recent times - and the 1-0 defeat at the hands of the latter was their first home humbling against those unheralded opponents for more than 60 years.

Roma must continue without captain Francesco Totti after his knee operation - while Nicolas Burdisso, Jeremy Menez and David Pizarro are all doubtful with injuries.

Rodrigo Taddei is suspended after being sent off against Udinese, and Daniele De Rossi and Marco Cassetti are both banned too.

Bologna's injury absentees include Massimo Mutarelli, but Marco Di Vaio is available again after suspension.