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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes 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 US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through 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 replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.