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There was admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious 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 capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season 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 fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. 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 piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.