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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption 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 level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of just participating.