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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. 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 Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.