Second-half goals from Ellie Carpenter and Kadeisha Buchanan gave us the victory, making it back-to-home wins in Europe for the Blues and maintaining our unbeaten record in this season’s Champions League.

However, we had to work hard for it, with Roma defending stubbornly and marking one-on-one to keep the scores level going into the half-time break at Plough Lane on Wednesday evening.

Chelsea captain Cuthbert was making her first start of the season since recovering from injury and played a crucial role in midfield, with her vision and movement helping open up our opponents and provide the breakthrough.

‘I’m happy with the result,’ said Cuthbert. ‘It was a tough game, Roma played really well, so credit to them. They made it really difficult.

‘I think it's really tough in Europe when you play against a player-to-player structure, how you try and move them, get them out of position. So Hannah [Hampton] was making a few really nice long balls and getting us in behind a couple of times, and it's a very transitional game and we made it that as well.

‘The manager said: "How can you find ways to get in the half-turn, especially when you play against player-to-player?". If you beat your direct opponent, the whole game opens up.

‘So it's about being more positive on the ball, taking more positive touches, getting yourself in a better body position so that you can break pressure. So you’ve always got to be alert with that.’

However, while Cuthbert and her fellow Blues were pleased with the outcome, there was some disappointment that we weren’t able to take our first-half chances and make the three points safer earlier, something underlined by Sonia Bompastor during the break.

Cuthbert continued: ‘The gaffer said that at half-time and that's something we'll look into because it was similar on Sunday. We want to start a little bit better than we have in both games. So we're disappointed with the start.

‘When we get a few chances, we need to be more ruthless. Also, once we do miss a couple of chances, I think it takes the wind out of our sails a little bit. We need to not be too disheartened because we can create chances from all over the pitch and keep the momentum.’

Finally, Cuthbert discussed her own return to the starting XI as she continues to get back to her best for Chelsea, while remaining patient as Bompastor eases our skipper into the action again.

‘I feel good, I feel fresh,’ she said. ‘As a football player you always want to be starting games and I felt like I was ready for my start. I feel like it's good minutes under my belt.

‘Rome wasn't built in a day - ironically, we played them! – but I need to be patient with my expectations of myself. It's been a long time that I've been out. It's just about trying to make as much impact as I can, whether it be as a sub or starting the game.

‘I'm really happy to do what the team needs and, of course, I want to start games and I want to get into a rhythm, but I know it's tough competition. And it's exciting because the club is doing so well at the moment and I'm proud to be a part of that.’