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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team in front. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase 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 appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half possession from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.