AC Milan are facing "nine finals" as they look to salvage another poor season with qualification for the Europa League as city rivals Inter reacted to their increasing dire straits by cancelling Sunday's Easter holiday.

A 2-1 win at Palermo on Saturday was AC Milan's second victory on the trot, and first away win since October as Inter's winless streak stretched to five games after a morale-sapping 1-1 draw at home to crisis-hit basement side Parma.

Come what may, embattled AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi looks increasingly likely to be replaced come the end of the campaign, according to pundits in Italy.

But the former Champions League winner with the Rossoneri has bought valuable time after seeing French forward Jeremy Menez pounce late to secure three precious points at a notoriously difficult Barbera stadium.

AC Milan remain eighth in the table, 29 points behind leaders Juventus and 14 behind Lazio in the third and last Champions League qualifying place.

Inzaghi's men are also seven points off the last Europa League place but with nine games remaining, Europe's second tier competition is a welcome target for the seven-time European Champions.

"It's three fundamental points, we needed them, especially as we hadn't won away from home in a long time," said midfielder Luca Antonelli.

"There are nine finals to go, but let's enjoy our Easter and from Tuesday we will start to think about Sampdoria (their next game)."

"I'm very happy," said Inzaghi, who has been under increasing pressure since AC Milan's lean period began weeks into the New Year.

"There's a long way to go, but the desire and spirit shown by the players is remarkable. Victories give you confidence and open your horizons.

"I'm happy with these back-to-back wins and so is the President," added Inzaghi, referring to club owner Silvio Berlusconi.

"We have to make him happier, and we hope to do the same for the fans in this final part of the season."

It has been several weeks since Inzaghi was jeered off the pitch by the club's frustrated supporters, but that was Mancini's lot on Saturday after another two dropped points left his side three points adrift of AC Milan.

Mancini promptly cancelled his players' day off on Easter Sunday, but quickly admitted he was partly to blame.

"As the coach I have to take responsibility for this situation we're in," Mancini said.

"We weren't clinical enough... we started well but Parma levelled and in the second half I don't think we showed the right attitude. It's hard to win if you concede every game."

Mancini, who won seven trophies including three consecutive league titles during his previous, four-year spell in charge (2004-2008) of Inter, added: "Sadly, it's not a good year for us. I'm sorry that instead of getting better the situation's got worse.

"But we need to knuckle down. We'll be back out for training tomorrow."

Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio was cynical in his explanation why Easter was cancelled: "It seems only right everyone goes back to work tomorrow (Sunday), given they all had a day off today.

"Tomorrow they can train and start preparing for next week's game."

Inter were Italy's last Champions League winners, in 2010, but asked if they can snatch a place in the Europa League next season, Colombian forward Fredy Guarin said: "That's our target, but first we have to focus on playing as a team and winning every game."