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There was admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital 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 squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the game was settled as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.