Allegri under pressure as Milan struggle

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Rome, October 31 - Coach Massimiliano Allegri needs to engineer a fast revival in AC Milan's future if he wants to keep his job after his side were booed off the San Siro pitch at the end of a 1-1 draw to Lazio Wednesday.

The result leaves the seven-time European champions languishing in 10th place with 12 points from 10 games, 15 points behind leaders AS Roma, who have played one game less. Allegri, who has experienced several "crisis" periods on the Milan bench since leading them to the Serie A title in his first season with them, 2010-11, has many problems to address.

His star player, Italy forward Mario Balotelli, has had a disappointing bad-tempered start to the season.

The 23-year-old, who was instrumental in Milan finishing third to qualify for the Champions League after arriving in January, failed to make an impact against Lazio was given the latest in a series of yellow cards for dissent.

Balotelli has already served a three-match ban this season for abusing a referee and on Wednesday Milan CEO Adriano Galliani felt the need to deny speculation the club may seek to sell him.

Allegri also has troubles with his defence, which has already leaked 17 goals in Serie A.

This weakness was exposed by Lazio on Wednesday, when defender Michael Ciani took advantage of slack marking to head in the Romans' second-half equaliser.

A positive note for Milan comes from the displays of Brazil playmaker Kakà since he returned from an injury that kept him out of much of the early season. On Wednesday he curled in his first goal since rejoining the seven-time European champions in the close season.

Allegri said he is confident Milan will soon move up the table.

"We were on top for over 70 minutes and then they had a counter-attack and that was that," Allegri said after the match.

"The team gave their all and Lazio created hardly anything so I cannot blame the players. "We have to up our game once more. "The other teams are flying but there is still a long way to go. "We did not defend well for their goal but we have not become a bad side.

"There are reasons for not getting results but we have had a lot of injuries".

Napoli and champions Juventus kept up the chase of Serie A leaders AS Roma with victories in their mid-week clashes.

Juve thrashed Catania 4-0 in Turin on Wednesday and Napoli won 2-1 at Fiorentina, so both moved up to 25 points from 10 games, closing the gap on Roma to two points.

The Rome side can restore the five-point lead they started the week with and set a new record for the best-ever start to a Serie A campaign if they continue their perfect record by notching their 10th consecutive win when they host bottom side Chievo Verona later on Thursday.

Promoted Hellas Verona continued their good form with a 2-0 home win over Sampdoria.

They moved up to joint-fourth with Inter, who also have 19 points, eight behind Roma, after being held 1-1 at Atalanta on Tuesday.

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