Siena remain rooted to the bottom of Serie A after going down 2-0 at home to Atalanta, their ninth defeat in 13 games.

Simone Tiribocchi gave the visitors the lead after 52 minutes and Robert Acquafresca looked to have sealed the win 16 minutes later from the penalty spot.

Siena were gifted the chance to get back into the game on 78 minutes but Michele Paolucci saw his penalty saved and the home side knew it would not be their day when they hit the bar twice within a matter of seconds.

Atalanta came into the game just three points above their opponents and knew victory could be vital in the battle at the wrong end of the table.

They started brightly and striker Simone Padoin flashed a shot wide from the edge of the box after eight minutes.

But it was the home side who came agonisingly close to an early goal on 12 minutes when Claudio Terzi's superb header came back off the post following Ferreira Reginaldo's cross.

No doubt buoyed by coming so close, Siena pressed forward and Gael Genevier tried his luck from distance on 19 minutes, but Atalanta keeper Andrea Consigli got down to his left to make the save.

Atalanta rallied and after 23 minutes Acquafresca headed wide from close range from Fabio Ceravolo's cross.

And eight minutes later Tiribocchi wasted a great chance to break the deadlock by lobbing over the bar with young Siena goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo well beaten.

Pegolo was back in prime position shortly after to deny the same player, pulling off an excellent stop to prevent Acquafresca's shot finding the corner of the net.

The final chance of the first half fell to Siena but Massimo Maccarone fired wide.

It took just seven minutes of the second half for the deadlock to be broken however, Tiribocchi heading home from close range.

And seven minutes later Acquafresca missed a golden chance to double the visitors' lead, failing to tap in from close range when it looked easier to score.

Atalanta did make it 2-0 on 67 minutes, however, Acquafresca making amends for his miss by winning and scoring a penalty.

He was fouled in the area by Daniele Ficagna but picked himself up to convert the spot-kick.

That looked to be decisive and Siena were left cursing their luck on 73 minutes when Emanuele Calaio hit the bar from 15 yards and Michele Fini also smashed the rebound against the woodwork.

If that was bad luck, Siena only had themselves to blame for not getting on the scoresheet with 12 minutes left.

Paolo Bianco was adjudged to have pushed Maccarone inside the area but was rescued by his goalkeeper, Consigli keeping out Paolucci's penalty to preserve his side's two-goal cushion.

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