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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma in front. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.