A first-half Dusan Vlahovic penalty and a Martin Caceres goal put the Viola two clear before Eddie Salcedo's header 18 minutes from time set up a nervy finale.

Fiorentina move eight points above the relegation zone, before the rest of the mid-week games.

Verona remain safely in mid-table despite their sixth defeat in seven matches.

Both clubs were on a poor run of results and it was Fiorentina that broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime when Vlahovic converted a penalty after Antonin Barak bundled over Giacomo Bonaventura.

Caceres scored Fiorentina's second in the 65th minute after Verona failed to clear a free kick, but substitute Salcedo reduced the deficit seven minutes later.

It is coach Giuseppe Iachini's first win since returning to the Fiorentina bench after a draw and two losses.

Fiorentina, who went into a training retreat before the match, next face nine-time defending champion Juventus who are battling to finish in the top four after some recent lacklustre form.

Australian Associated Press