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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period the ball from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side meant this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.