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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.