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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. 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 compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team in front. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.