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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the game was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level 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 dismal spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, 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 game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.