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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team in front. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from each side meant this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.