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There was admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was settled as a competition 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. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.