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There was impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.