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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.