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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team ahead. The visitors minus 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 early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period possession from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. 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 curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.