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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. 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 targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership 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 substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.