🔗 Share this article

There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

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 arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side meant this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.