Fiorentina leapt into the top half of the Serie A table thanks to a hard-fought win over Chievo at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Substitute Alessio Cerci's 75th-minute goal decided a tight encounter in the Viola's favour, enabling them to climb eight places in the table to join Roma in ninth.

The win also takes them to within two points of their opponents, who remain in seventh.

Adrian Mutu was making his first appearance at the Artemio Franchi this season and he was given a warm welcome by the home fans, who clearly hoped his return could be the spark to ignite their season.

Yet it was a defender who had their first chance of the game in the fifth minute with Per Kroldrup finding the ball at his feet inside the six-yard box, but his shot was saved instinctively by Stefano Sorrentino.

Kevin Constant had the visitors' first shot of the game in the 19th minute, but Artur Boruc made an easy save from his low 20-yard shot.

Chances were few and far between in a competitive match which was played out largely in the central third of the field.

In the 71st minute, Fiorentina came close to making the breakthrough when Juan Vargas' shot was parried by Sorrentino, but Mutu volleyed over from 12 yards out on the rebound.

The home side finally did get the goal they wanted in the 75th minute.

Mutu and Alberto Gilardino exchanged passes with the Italy international's determination allowing him to somehow dig out a shot while lying on the floor and Sorrentino parried the ball into the path of Cerci, who stroked it into the empty net for his first goal in Serie A.

Constant missed a great chance to level in the 87th minute when he placed his shot wide from eight yards, but the home side held on to a crucial three points.