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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting 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 lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.