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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.