AS Roma counting on fans for derby clash with Lazio

Lazio players celebrate after scoring during their

      ROME (AFP) - In-form AS Roma face a perilous threat to their recent winning run as they tackle cross-city rivals Lazio in the Rome derby on Wednesday.

      Roma have turned up the expectation amongst their fans recently, cutting back Inter Milan's lead at the top of Serie A from 11 to six points and beating Real Madrid home and away to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will face Manchester United.

      But there is nothing like a local derby to bring a team crashing back down to earth with a bump.

      Brazilian goalkeeper Doni, the star of Roma's come from behind 2-1 home victory over AC Milan on Saturday, said the whole team is counting on their fans to give them an extra push against Lazio.

      "I expect important support from them during the derby," he said. "On Wednesday we go to the Roman amphitheatre, the match most eagerly anticipated by both sets of fans.

      "Of course it's a special match. We won the home match but Lazio didn't deserve to lose, I remember they played really well."

      Roma have a great chance of closing the gap on Inter at the top as the champions face a tricky trip to Genoa.

      But Lazio are fighting for UEFA Cup qualification and Doni knows this will make them even more dangerous.

      "It will be a very difficult match, both teams have big objectives to aim for in the standings," he added.

      Inter not only have defensive problems, with Walter Samuel, Ivan Cordoba and Maxwell all out, but they've been bothered by rumours of a bust up between coach Roberto Mancini and star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

      Ibrahimovic had a tantrum on Sunday when he was substituted against Palermo, a match Inter won 2-1, and the club have since been at pains to claim there are no problems within the camp.

      "Every time people try to find problems at Inter," moaned owner Massimo Moratti.

      Mancini defended his striker after the Palermo match, saying: "Almost everyone does that when they get substituted, I also did it."

      The other big issue is the race for Champions League places with Juventus, in third, four points clear of Fiorentina, who are in turn four points ahead of Milan.

      Only two of those three will make it into Europe's premier competition next season.

      Milan played impressively against Roma despite going down, while Juve needed a late goal from Vincenzo Iaquinta on Sunday to steal three points at home to Napoli, who Fiorentina visit on Wednesday.

      Romania forward Adrian Mutu, the star for the Viola in their 3-1 win over Genoa on Sunday, knows it's important to have a gap on Milan.

      "In the table four points to Milan is not nothing. There's still 10 matches to go and all the games will be tough."

      Milan host UEFA Cup qualification chasing Sampdroia, whose star forward Antonio Cassano is currently serving a ban for throwing his shirt at a referee.

      Veteran Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf believes the Roma defeat will not hurt his team's hopes of snatching that vital fourth place.

      "I feel optimistic about the future even if (Sunday) was not a great day for us regarding the standings and the distance between us and the other two teams," he said.

      "I believe that with belief, with our play and with our grit, this team will be able to snatch fourth place."

      Juventus face a trip to lowly Empoli.

      Fixtures:

      Wednesday

      AC Milan v Sampdoria, Cagliari v Atalanta, Catania v Siena, Empoli v Juventus, Genoa v Inter Milan, Lazio v AS Roma, Livorno v Reggina, Napoli v Fiorentina, Parma v Palermo, Torino v Udinese