Ascoli's Serie A fate was finally sealed last weekend with a single-goal defeat at Torino, but Nedo Sonetti's men had enough about them to overturn a half-time deficit and stun their Sicilian opponents in Sunday.

Fabio Henrique Simplicio and Radoslaw Matusiak struck in the first half for the visitors, with Viktor Boudianski's effort for the hosts sandwiched between the two.

The hosts turned the game on its head after the break through further goals from Michele Paolucci and Boudianski again, with Simplicio's late red card adding to the visitors' woes.

Palermo's season has lost some of its lustre since the turn of the year but a place in the UEFA Cup would have been almost within touching distance if they had beaten their lowly opponents.

The defeat, however, sees the Rosaneri slip a place to seventh - and out of the UEFA Cup spots.

For much of the early part of the season Palermo were genuine title contenders before Internazionale stormed clear in what would eventually prove to be a stroll to the Scudetto.

But a slump in form has seen them slip out of the Champions League places and now struggling for even a UEFA Cup berth.

It all looked to be going well for the visitors when Simplicio put them ahead in the 10th minute, beating the offside trap and converting Mark Bresciano's centre.

The hosts, by this stage, had been forced into an early substitution when the injured Luigi Di Biagio had to be replaced by debutant Giuseppe Bellusci.

Di Biagio's presence was missed in defence, with Ascoli goalkeeper Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos left to save the day at the feet of Radoslav Matusiak.

Palermo keeper Federico Agliardi managed to stop, but not hold, Boudianski's powerful shot in the 13th minute.

Boudianski was just finding his range with his early effort, however, and used that to good effect in the 25th minute by firing a superb free-kick into the top corner.

Palermo's lead was restored five minutes later when Matusiak, following up after Eleftheropolous had saved Simplicio's shot, netted his first Serie A goal.

Eight minutes before the interval the hosts had a chance to draw level after Massimo Bonanni's shot had hit the wall, but Paolucci could not latch onto the loose ball in the six-yard box.

Just one minute after the restart, however, Ascoli were back on level terms.

Agliardi failed to deal with Andrea Soncin's drive and Paolucci was on hand to make it 2-2.

Palermo substitute Andrea Caracciolo then tried his luck with a lob, but Eleftheropolous read the danger well.

And just after the hour mark Ascoli found themselves ahead for the first time in the match courtesy of a quickly-taken free-kick from Boudianski on the edge of the penalty area which caught Agliardi off-guard.

Bonanni nearly stretched his side's lead three minutes later, with Agliardi no more than an onlooker as his free-kick crashed against the crossbar.

Agliardi had to be alert 13 minutes from time to keep out a central shot from Stefano Guberti.

Simplicio was given his marching orders in the 81st minute for reacting to a foul on him by Paolo Zanetti.

Despite playing with a man less, Palermo had a chance to level 60 seconds later when Eugenio Corini teed up substitute Franco Brienza, but he could only head wide.

Ascoli mustered a couple more opportunities on the counter-attack through Paolucci and Simone Pesce, but neither found a way past Agliardi. Agliardi was then caught out of position but substitute Domenico Giampa shot wide.

And Ascoli were almost made to pay for their profligacy in the final minute when Brienza's blast appeared goalbound, but young defender Bellusci cleared off the line to secure his side only a second home win of the season.