Gennaro Gattuso loses on Napoli debut as late Gervinho winner lifts Parma

Gennaro Gattuso's debut as Napoli coach ended in a 2-1 injury-time defeat to Parma as last season's Serie A runners-up extended ir winless run to eight league games.

Gattuso took over after Carlo Ancelotti was sacked despite Napoli's 4-0 Champions League win over Genk booking ir place in last 16 in midweek.

But former AC Milan coach's reign got off to worst possible start as sourners drop to eighth -- 17 points behind leaders Inter Milan who play Fiorentina on Sunday.

Gervinho struck winner in third minute of injury time after Dejan Kulusevski had put Parma ahead after just four minutes in Naples.

Arkadiusz Milik pulled hosts level on 64 minutes in game which had been delayed after high winds damd roofing of San Paolo Stadium.

"This team is suffering psychologically," said Gattuso, "paying for fact that it has t won (in league) for 50 or more days.

" mirror of current situation was first ten minutes. It's tough, as are whistles of fans. re's a lot of work to do."

Kulusevski struck early as defender Kalidou Koulibaly lost control of ball minutes into game.

Senegalese defender went off with a thigh injury just after his blunder, with Parma also losing striker Andreas Cornelius to injury after quarter of an hour.

Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne missed chances to break through, inexplicably sending wide with just Parma goalkeeper Luigi Sepe to beat.

Gattuso brought on Dries Mertens after an hour with Belgian setting up Milik to head past Sepe, Polish striker following on from his hat-trick against Genk.

Gervinho threatened when he raced up pitch, past Napoli defence with Alex Meret stopping with his foot.

Ivorian finally broke through three minutes into added time, scoring after a counter-attack with Kulusevski.

"Insigne? He's t problem, he's t only one who played badly," said Gattuso as Napoli sit eight points off Champions League places with ir last win against Verona on October 19.

Gattuso missed out on Champions League places with AC Milan last season.

But former World Cup winner with Italy, conceded Napoli's situation was different as it came against a backdrop of past success.

"Milan was a team in trouble, coming out of four or five problem years," said Gattuso.

"Here everything that is happening is something new.

"In past few years 80 percent of se players have always come second or third and are t used to t winning in league for 50 days.

"y find mselves dealing with a situation y have never experienced, and are paying for this."

Napoli travel to Sassuolo on December 22 for ir final game before winter break.

"Fourth place? More than thinking about that right w we have to work to improve ourselves and think game by game," added Gattuso.

Parma coach Roberto D'Aversa believes that both y and fourth-placed Cagliari are proving y can match top teams.

"Coming here and conquering three points was t easy," he said, as seventh-placed Parma target a return to Europe for first time since 2007.

Parma qualified for Europa League in 2014-15 season, but lost ir place amid a dispute over income tax payments.

Substitute Malo Gabbiadini struck five minutes from time off a Karol Linetty cross to hand Sampdoria a 1-0 win in a relegation battle against city rivals Gea.

Claudio Ranieri's side are two points above drop zone ahead of Brescia who beat Lecce 3-0.

"Winning derby is always important," said Ranieri who has w won all four major Italian city derbies as a coach in Rome, Milan, Turin and Gea.

"It was a difficult game, played with a knife between teeth. Both of us are fighting against relegation."

Sampdoria host champions Juventus next Wednesday, a team Ranieri coached for two seasons.

"We cant get distracted," continued former Leicester manr. "We are t out of quicksand yet." Gea are second last in table, four points from safety.