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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.