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There was impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the game was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.