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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.