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There was impressive effectiveness in 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. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of just participating.