Roma's resurgence continued with a creditable victory at Chievo courtesy of Jeremy Menez's impressive 69th-minute winner.
The Eternal City giants have recovered from a horrendous start to the season with captain Francesco Totti's return coinciding with a significant upturn in fortunes.
But arriving in Verona on the back of four successive victories, it was summer signing Menez - reportedly unsettled in Italy - who provided the crucial contribution as 10-man Roma dominated throughout.
The Frenchman's left-footed strike sealed the points for Luciano Spalletti's side - despite the late dismissal of Matteo Brighi - ahead of their crucial midweek Champions League clash with Bordeaux.
It was Menez who carved out the first chance of the game after 10 minutes, dribbling beyond two defenders before seeing his shot pushed wide by goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.
Chievo responded 11 minutes later when Mauro Esposito sent in a low drive from 20 yards which Roma goalkeeper Doni saved well.
Having started the game impressively Menez should have seen his side take the lead when his run and cross from the left was met by Brighi, only for Sorrentino to save the midfielder's close-range effort.
Captain Totti saw his 30th-minute free-kick go narrowly wide and seven minutes later defender Philippe Mexes benefited from Menez's brilliant cross, only to send his header over the bar.
Chievo, up against it for much of the half, wanted a penalty four minutes before the break when Brighi appeared to foul Esposito only for their appeals to be waved away.
Roma renewed their assault early in the second half as Julio Baptista's close-range shot was cleared off the line by Andrea Mantovani.
Totti forced another save out of Sorrentino seven minutes after the break with his speculative 30-yard effort. Two minutes later he came even closer, firing in from 20 yards, only to see the Chievo goalkeeper make an even better save.
Sorrentino's busy afternoon continued with Simone Perrotta hitting a fierce volley which the keeper pushed away from the top-right corner.
The breakthrough finally came after 69 minutes.
Menez did well to work another opening and this time his excellent left-footed shot from inside the box evaded Sorrentino's dive.
Roma full-back Cicinho nearly doubled the lead barely three minutes later but saw his 25-yard effort go wide of the post.
After Chievo spearhead Esposito headed wide from deep it was back to the other end as John Arne Riise's free-kick forced Sorrentino into action yet again.
The home side's hopes of mounting a late push were boosted significantly by Brighi's 85th-minute dismissal for a second booking following a foul on Simone Bentivoglio.
But in fact it was last season's Serie A runners-up who forged the last opportunity, Riise bearing down on goal only for Fabio Moro to intervene brilliantly.
