🔗 Share this article

There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team 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 contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.