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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.