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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the game was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 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 technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead 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 lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.