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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.