Roma ended their miserable run of form with a 1-0 victory over Cesena on Sunday evening, although Rudi Garcia’s team were far from convincing and struggled for large periods of the match at a packed Stadio Dino Manuzzi.
With Francesco Totti missing through injury, it fell to the Giallorossi’s vice-captain, Daniele De Rossi to secure an important win for the capital side with a strike just before half time.
The visitors started brightly on the artificial surface of the Stadio Manuzzi with Adem Ljajic testing Nicola Leali in the home goal early on, but the on-loan Juventus youngster got down to make a good save, while he was relieved to see Alessandro Florenzi’s long range effort skid by his post a few minutes later.
As the first half progressed, Roma continued to probe the Cesena defence and control the game, aided by the hosts inability to keep possession of the ball. However, they struggled to really work the Cesena goalkeeper with Gervinho hitting a pair of chances the wrong side of the post.
Against superior opposition, the hosts sat deep and tried to play direct to Milan Djuric when the opportunity presented itself. It almost paid off for them when the big target man teed up Luigi Giorgi in the 21st minute, but the midfielder’s effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Ljajic continued to look dangerous whenever he got on the ball throughout the first half, but the rest of the Roma attack appeared impotent against a well organised and hard working Cesena back line.
They did finally make the breakthrough in the 41st minute when, against the run of play, De Rossi arrived with perfect timing in the Cesena box to slot home Jose Holebas’ cross and give the visitors a one goal advantage going into the break.
The second half began in the same fashion as the first ended, with Cesena pressing Roma high up the pitch, their efforts aided by a succession of errors committed by the Giallorossi players.
For their part, Roma continued to create opportunities but without Totti they lacked a cutting edge, with Seydou Doumbia unconvincing throughout.
Roma maintained their disjointed performance as the second half developed with Rudi Garcia’s team suffering through sloppy passing and unenforced mistakes. They continually gave the ball away, looked low on confidence, and laboured to make any progress against a team sitting second bottom of the league.
As the match wore on Cesena began to control proceedings, with the Romans being forced deeper into their own half. Djuric through around his massive frame and caused the Roma defence problems with his sheer strength and presence, often linking up well with the far more mobile Grégoire Defrel.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa replaced Ljajic with 12 minutes remaining as Garcia tried to hold on to his side’s slender lead in the face of continued Cesena pressure.
The home side threw everything at Roma in the closing stages of the game, but the visitors were able to hang on and record a vital victory which reaffirms their top three credentials.
