🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.