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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, depicted 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 life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.