New Novara coach Emiliano Mondonico's first match ended in defeat they lost 2-1 at home to Chievo in Serie A on Thursday night.

Pellissier: Scored for Chievo

Sergio Pellissier put the visitors in front in the 33rd minute and Cyril Thereau gave them breathing space 12 minutes from time.

Giuseppe Mascara pulled a goal back for Novara a minute later, but the bottom side could not find an equaliser as their Serie A survival hopes receded further.

The defeat was Novara's fifth in a row and kept them seven points from safety.

Mondonico has replaced Attilio Tesser, who was sacked after the 2-0 defeat at Palermo last weekend, but his new side were soon on the back foot this evening.

Home goalkeeper Samir Ujkani kept his side on level terms in the 10th minute when he parried Pellissier's low shot and then recovered to keep out Luciano's follow-up.

Ivan Radovanovic tested Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino from long range before Thereau followed narrowly over at the other end.

The visitors should have gone ahead in the 29th minute only for Gennaro Sardo's close-range header to be blocked by team-mate Alberto Paloschi.

But Pellissier broke the deadlock four minutes later as he slotted Luciano's excellent cross low into the corner of the net.

Marco Rigoni flashed a shot wide for Novara, but it was a rare foray forward for the home side as Chievo continued to dominate.

Ujkani tipped over Thereau's far-post volley from Michael Bradley's cross to prevent his side falling further behind.

Novara responded well after the break and Massimo Paci narrowly failed to get on the end of Giuseppe Gemiti's cross.

Sorrentino then had to get down low to keep out a Gemiti effort before opposite number Ujkani was again called into action to deny Thereau.

But the French striker finally got his reward in the 77th minute, netting from close range after being played in by Paolo Sammarco.

Novara were not yet beaten, though, and hit back immediately as Mascara converted Rigoni's cross.

Daniel Jensen fired wide as Novara pressed for a late leveller, but it did not come.