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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. 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 sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, 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. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

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 finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.