Fiorentina vs Lecce preview - We are turning corner - De Canio

Posted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by PA

Lecce coach Luigi De Canio has warned his team is growing in confidence and getting better by the day after overcoming a dismal run of form.

The promoted outfit travel to Tuscany to face Fiorentina on Sunday having left behind them a difficult time which had seen them lose five of their six games heading into the winter break.

Lecce bounced back from their 1-0 defeat to Bari in the opening game of the year with a 2-1 triumph at Lazio, and last weekend's 1-1 draw against Serie A leaders AC Milan has fuelled hopes that Lecce can climb out of the drop zone.

Lecce are still third-bottom but go into Sunday's clash, level on 19 points with Cesena who hold the last position of safety.

Cesena take on AC Milan this weekend.

"We are hungry for wins," said De Canio. "We never stopped believing that we could turn things around.

"Last weekend, we faced a difficult game against Milan but we showed a lot of maturity against a team that was also determined to get a positive result."

Lecce have shown an improvement both in attack and defence, with three goals scored and two conceded in their last two games.

"We are more lucid, more focused now than last year," said De Canio.

"My team is now able to strike at the right time.

"Positive results gives you confidence and my team is improving week by week."

The pressure will be on opponents Fiorentina, who know they must keep taking as many points as possible from their home games having failed to win on the road this season.

The Viola clinched their fifth point on their travels in last weekend's goalless draw at Napoli.

The result lifted Sinisa Mihajlovic's side to 11th in the standings, five points clear of Lecce.

The hosts have won their last five league games at the Artemio Franchi stadium.

Lecce will be without Mesbah, who serves a one-match ban and Nigerian striker Edward Ofere, who is out for the rest of the season with a right knee injury.