Inter lose at home to struggling Bologna

MILAN (AP): Claudio Ranieri's job is hanging in the balance after a disastrous defensive performance saw his Inter Milan side lose 3-0 at home to struggling Bologna in Serie A.

Marco Di Vaio struck twice in less than a minute in the first half, following two shocking Inter mistakes. Robert Acquafresca sealed the result in the 86th after another Nerazzurri lapse.

Question marks now hang over Ranieri after two defeats in a row at home to Serie A minnows. And just as they had done during last week's loss to Novara, the home fans voiced their displeasure.

As well as jeers during the match, the fans gathered outside the stadium afterwards, clamouring for the return of treble-winning coach Jose Mourinho ... who is now in charge of Real Madrid.

Ranieri insisted he was not thinking of resigning, adding: "We're united in our desire to find an answer. We won't give up, now we'll discuss things and think about the Champions League. We're not doing what we're capable of and we have to apologise to President (Massimo) Moratti and our fans who tried to encourage us, but the third goal triggered their bitterness."

Inter was on a streak of eight successive victories which had started talk of resurrecting their title chances, but has now gone six games in all competitions without a win - a run which includes five defeats.

It is also Inter's 10th defeat this season in Serie A. They have only lost as many games in the top flight once before - in the 1946/47 campaign.

Napoli leapfrogged Inter into fifth after two Edinson Cavani goals helped them win 3-0 at Fiorentina. Bologna extended the gap on the relegation zone to seven points.

Inter had Giampaolo Pazzini and Diego Forlan back in the starting line-up, while key playmaker Wesley Sneijder - who has had lengthy spells out with injury this season - also started.

And it was Sneijder who almost gave Inter the lead in the 11th minute as he turned his marker well but his curling shot was too central and easily caught by Bologna goalkeeper Jean-François Gillet.

The Belgian shotstopper did brilliantly shortly afterwards to somehow keep out Maicon's powerful header from point-blank range.

However, the defence left Di Vaio completely unmarked on the right of goal in the 37th minute and he had plenty of time, as the Inter defenders rushed over to him, to control the ball and fire it home with his left foot.

Seconds later, it was even worse for Inter as Andrea Ranocchia tried to control a long Bologna pass but chested it into Di Vaio's path and the Bologna striker raced forward before lofting the ball over Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

Acquafresca put the final nail in the coffin four minutes from time. Four Inter defenders seemed scared to tackle him as he muscled his way through with ease before curling a shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area.