Dzeko glad to contribute to key win with another goal

Roma clinched a 2-1 victory thanks in part to Dzeko's early goal - his fifth of the season in the league already.

Kostas Manolas's second-half header then confirmed an invaluable three points, ensuring the Giallorossi are among the early front-runners in Serie A alongside Napoli and Juventus.

“It's a really important win for us because after two defeats on the road against Fiorentina and Torino we needed this," Dzeko said. "It was hard because Inter are a top team and they played very well today too, but we got the win and that's the main thing.”

He added: “We lost against teams that aren't better than us but they tried harder and they won. That's football. We have to keep improving and we gave the right sort of response today.”

Dzeko's personal contribution was certainly appreciated by the fans, with his name ringing round the Olimpico at points during the contest and the striker getting applauded off the pitch at the final whistle.

“The fans have always been behind me," he said. "I've had a few whistles aimed in my direction from time to time but then I've missed some chances I should have taken.

"I feel better now. I've got five goals in seven games. I could have scored more but it's not bad.”

For one of the first times this season Roma did not dominate possession throughout the contest, ensuring players had to concentrate fully on defence as much as attack.

The discipline shown could be required when the Giallorossi return to action against Napoli.

“It was a very tiring game, partly because Inter played so well and kept hold of the ball a lot," Dzeko added. "We spent a lot of time running around while not in possession. We won it in the end and I think we can play even better than we did tonight.”

“[Napoli] is another big match against another great team. We're playing away from home and we have to do better than we've done up to now.”