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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. 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.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.