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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball from that point. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to gauge 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 bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.