🔗 Share this article

There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, showed the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.