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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.