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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, showed the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.