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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’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 displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team ahead. The visitors without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted 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, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly 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.