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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise 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.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, showed the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.