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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. 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 displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.