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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential 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 far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.