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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective 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. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.