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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the game was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from both teams meant this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.