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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 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 best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. The visitors without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.