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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, the chairman had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of just participating.