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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic 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 bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper 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 substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.