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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given 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 series of changes from each side meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.