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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, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side 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. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball 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 lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.