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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades 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 major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession thereafter. 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. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, showed the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.