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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.