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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team 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 second half when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. 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 this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.