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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession 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. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.