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There was admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side meant this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.