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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter 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 marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, showed the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.