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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.