Young striker Giampaolo Pazzini, filling in for injured talisman Luca Toni, grabbed the only goal of the game in the seventh minute as Fiorentina took advantage of defeats for both Empoli and Palermo to climb to fifth.

Not bad for a team who began the season with a 15-point deficit as a result of the club's involvement in last season's match-fixing scandal.

They wasted little time on Sunday, taking the lead after just seven minutes as Pazzini got up to head home from just six yards out.

Cagliari sought a response, but Diego Lopez Breijo headed wide from Simone Pepe's corner.

Just before the half-hour mark, Pepe had another chance but his right-footed shot from close range flew over the bar.

Pepe's aim had deserted him and just moments later he sent a left-footed shot wide when he had another sigh of goal.

Fiorentina then re-established control of the game as it headed towards half time.

At the other end, Denmark winger Martin Jorgensen tried his luck with a right-footed shot from just outside the area but he sent the shot wide.

Fabio Liverani was next to try his luck but he sent the ball over the crossbar from a free-kick.

There were two further chances for Fiorentina to extend their lead moments before half-time.

First defender Tomas Ujfalusi saw his right-footed shot saved by goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti.

Seconds later, the goalkeeper made a fine save to deny Pazzini with a close-range effort.

The Italy Under-21 striker went close again moments after the restart, but again Chimenti was in the right place to make the save.

The goalkeeper was being kept busy, and in the 51st minute he did well to block a right-footed effort from Romania striker Adrian Mutu.

At the other end, Cagliari were unlucky not to level the match as Cristiano Del Grosso struck the bar with a header from Pepe's flick-on.

Chimenti was fast-emerging as the man of the match as he continued to make heroic saves to keep his team in the game.

In the 64th minute Riccardo Montolivo's shot looked goalbound until Chimenti somehow scrambled across to make the save in front of his right-hand post.

Fiorentina defender Dario Dainelli was then denied with a shot from inside the area.

In the 78th minute, Mutu tried his luck from 25 yards but sent the ball wide of the right-hand post.

Cagliari then had two late chances to win it.

First Davide Suazo missed the target from just outside the area, and then - deep into injury time - Pepe saw his effort saved by Sebastien Frey as Fiorentina clung on for all three points.