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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot 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 blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.