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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma 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 stage of making up the numbers.