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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.