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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.