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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted 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 continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the match was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of just participating.