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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League 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 suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. The visitors without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.