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There was admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the game was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.