AC Milan have won their first Serie A game in five thanks to a 2-1 victory over Roma.

The visitors almost took the lead in the first minute as Gervinho scampered down the left wing, but his low cross was hacked away by Gabriel Paletta.

Milan struggled in the early stages, but Keisuke Honda had the best chance of the opening few minutes and forced Morgan De Sanctis into an acrobatic save from inside the area.

The away side looked dangerous from set pieces and only the post stopped Kostas Manolas's header from creeping into the corner.

Roma controlled much of the first half, but Milan came back at them as it edged towards half time and De Sanctis was forced into another flying save to keep out a powerful header from Giacomo Bonaventura.

They maintained their pressure and found the breakthrough a few minutes later as Honda sprinted down the right and crossed for Marco van Ginkel to tap in.

Roma almost found a spectacular equaliser after the break as Radja Nainggolan found Alessandro Florenzi on the right side of the penalty box, but his first-time volley drifted inches wide.

Milan doubled their lead shortly after as a Honda cross found Mattia Destro six yards out, and he powered a header into the back of the net.

However, Roma were handed a lifeline late on when Juan Iturbe won a penalty, and Francesco Totti's weak effort squirmed under the body of Diego Lopez.

Rudi Garcia's men sensed that a draw was on offer, and Iturbe had a goal-bound effort blocked by Alex in the six-yard box, before the tricky winger forced Lopez to tip a low shot around the post.

Their mini-resurgence could not bring a second goal though and Milan held on for an overdue win.