Peter Horne opened the scoring for Glasgow

The Warriors got off to the best possible start with Nikola Matawalu's quick tap penalty, run and pass putting Peter Horne in under the posts for the try.

The Glasgow stand-off converted, but his opposite number Luciano Orquera kicked his own three-pointer minutes later to get Zebre on the board.

Warriors extended their lead with DTH van der Merwe intercepting to go in from 40 metres and giving Horne the easy conversion.

The 14-3 lead didn't last long as Horne saw his kick charged down for Fillippo Cristiano to go in for the try with Orquera adding the extras.

That wasn't the end of the first quarter craziness and after more Zebre slackness this time it was Peter Murchie who ran in the try with Horne adding another conversion to make it 21-10.

Warriors could have extended their lead but great forays into Zebre territory by Leone Nakarawa and Matawalu weren't rewarded with points.

Prop Alex Allan was yellow carded by referee Leo Colgan after repeated infringements by the visitors but that didn't stop Warriors going in at the corner for the bonus point try from Peter Horne.

The stand-off couldn't add the extras but there was still time for another quick tap from Matawalu to spark the move that ended with Tim Swinson touching down under the posts and Horne adding the easy kick to give Glasgow a 33-10 lead at the interval.

The second period started in much more sedate fashion with Warriors bringing on Rossouw de Klerk, Josh Strauss and Will Bordill for Michael Cusack, Alastair Kellock and Tyrone Holmes in the 48th minute.

Zebre were enjoying a bit of pressure and a quick tap and go in the Glasgow 22' saw Matawalu yellow carded for intentionally knocking on in an offside position.

Warriors brought on Ali Price, Kevin Bryce, Rory Hughes and Jerry Yanuyanutawa in a game that was increasingly punctuated with penalties and turnovers.

Horne and van der Merwe injected some quality with the Canadian international stopped just short but debutant Fraser Lyle was on hand to drop over for the try. Horne converted for Glasgow to hit the 40 mark.

Horne made way for Connor Braid to make his return to action in a Glasgow shirt and the Canadian converted after Hughes put Murchie in for try number seven with minutes remaining.

However there was still time for Will Bordill to show some quick thinking at the ruck to score his first try for Warriors.

Braid converted to make it 54-10 to Glasgow and set things up for next week's Scotstoun clash with Ospreys.

After the match Gregor Townsend told glasgowwarriors.org: "It was a very professional display and it was great to see the players fit in with the rugby we aspire to play and transfer the hard work they've done in training over the last few weeks into what was a clinical performance at times.

"I thought the beginning and end of the game and either side of half time were very good in terms of execution.

"Zebre competed very hard at the break down and they had a good forward pack and a good line-out drive and with a heavy pitch it was wasn't the most fluent of games but when we executed well we scored tries which was really pleasing.

"Fraser Lyle has worked really hard since he came in last November and I thought he defended really well and it was great to see him scoring a try too on his debut. All round he played with confidence and it's good to see for the future.

"Al Kellock carried hard and defended well and it was great to see such a good team performance on his 150th appearance for the club.

"We know we weren't perfect today and we've got a bit to analyse ahead of the game on Saturday.

"Ospreys are a quality side who look to play a lot of rugby and they are very good defensively. The last time they were in Scotland they lost to Edinburgh Rugby so I'm sure they'll be determined to come back up and stay near the top of the table."