Rome wasn't built in a day. The visitors from the Eternal City showed the full scale of the remodelling work that must be undertaken at Ibrox once again.
After another summer of a considerable turnover and a considerable spend, the Europa League campaign lies in rubble. Four wins from the remaining four matches could yet earn qualification but no fan who has watched a minute of this term will believe that is possible.
Read more:
- Danny Rohl didn't create Rangers' mess but could be the man to fix it - 4Lads
- Andrew Cavenagh spotted on Rangers meet and greet ahead of Roma clash
Roma eased into a 2-0 lead at the break as Matias Soule and Lorenzo Pellegrini netted. The Serie A giants were in complete control as Rangers offered nothing.
The second half was more notable for events in the stands than those on the park. That is not the first time that situation has unfolded this term, of course.
No Thursday night inspiration at Ibrox
The Europa League fear factor has gone. So has the level of respect that some of the biggest teams on the continent would have had for Rangers and for Ibrox. The expectation amongst their own has gone, too. This is a side that is more likely to suffer blow after blow than punch above its weight.
The reputation that was so hard to build during Steven Gerrard’s reign and then added to by Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been steadily eroded over recent seasons. This term, it has been shattered into pieces. The thousands of empty seats around Ibrox told their own story.
The embarrassing manner of the capitulation to Club Brugge was one thing. Losing to Genk, Sturm Graz and SK Brann to head into matchday four bottom of the Europa League was quite another. The task of qualifying was almost impossible before a ball was kicked here and this was the blow that Rangers will not be able to recover from.
Roma are clearly an accomplished outfit, even without some of their most well-known names. The days of Rangers being to compete with a team of this quality are so far in the past, though. In truth, supporters should not really be speaking about Europa League Thursdays and the record in this competition. The league table, after all, does not lie.
Rangers remain pointless and hopeless. That is not on Rohl, but on the shoulders of those above him. This was a reminder of how far they have fallen, and how far they have to travel on the road to recovery. The steps back, as always, are easier to take than the ones forward.
Crowd turns against executives
Gian Piero Gasperini had warned his players they would have to handle a ‘hot’ Ibrox atmosphere if they were to emerge victorious. The Italians did not get a warm reception, but they were able to douse the crowd with ease. This was not one of the famous European nights under these lights.
The pre-match display in the Copland Stand was impressive as a Roman soldier rose from the ground to face the away support. Behind him, a Colosseum display was filled with blue and white flags. The roar when the teams emerged was as loud as Ibrox got. It was flat and it was uninspiring. Much like the team on the pitch.
— Chris Jack (@Chris_Jack89) November 6, 2025
Rohl had spent his Wednesday evening assisting with the set up of the display. It was another touch of class from the German, evidence that he is keen to build a relationship with the supporters. Before the game, chairman Andrew Cavenagh shook hands and posed for photographs with fans in the Enclosures.
The PR charm offensive didn’t prevent banners against Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell being unfurled at both ends at half-time. In the Sandy Jardine Stand a message which read ‘Make Rangers Great Again The 49ers… This is not a hobby this is our lives’ was displayed. There were boos when security attempted to remove the Stewart and Thelwell banners before chants of ‘get to f***’ against the chief executive and sporting director in the second half. Those tensions show no sign of diminishing any time soon.
No goals and few ideas
Chances were hard to come by. Rangers lacked guile and were so short of creativity in the moments that they had possession in the final third. A couple of set piece routines that had clearly been worked on were a sign of Rohl’s input but the lack of quality is a problem that he cannot solve right now.
A move that set Youssef Chermiti down the right channel was one of the few that Rangers worked. The angle tightened with the every step the Portuguese took and a low shot across target was just wide of the far post. Chermiti has been the focus of so much discussion given his transfer fee and his contribution this term but this was a night where the fingers of blame could not be solely pointed at him.
Djeidi Gassama and Mikey Moore offered flashes and briefly threatened to unlock Roma but their efforts too often came to nothing as a couple of mazy runs and crosses ended with the Italians left untroubled. A Gassama cross was parried and a Moore shot blocked.
After the break, Moore almost found the far corner from the edge of the area. Minutes later, Chermiti hit the side netting at the near post after meeting a Connor Barron pass. Thelo Aasgaard had been introduced at the break and Danilo and Mohamed Diomande followed.
The additions of Bojan Miovski and then Findlay Curtis were done in hope rather than expectation. The game was long, long gone by that stage.
Italians ease to victory
The first goal had been coming. So had the second, right enough. Roma returned to the dressing room with a lead that should have been even greater after a comfortable, commanding 45 minutes where they outplayed and outclassed Rangers. They sauntered through the second period.
The deadlock was broken just 13 minutes in. It was a goal the visitors didn’t have to work hard for as a Pellegrini corner from the right was flicked on by Bryan Crisante. Matias Soule did the rest from just yards out as this Rangers defence was exposed so easily once again. Mario Hermoso would surely have doubled the advantage if his header had hit the target.
The second arrived eight minutes before the whistle. Roma’s passing and movement was too quick and precise for Rangers. The ball was worked into Artem Dovbyk, who shifted it to his left and found Pellegrini. The end result was inevitable as he slotted a cool finish beyond Jack Butland.
In that moment, the game was done. The remainder was played at a pace to suit the Serie A outfit. Rangers attempted to rally, but they were never going to cause their visitors any anxiousness in terms of the result.
Attentions turn to Dens Park
Every day and every 90 minutes is a learning experience for Rohl right now. He did not collect any points here, but he would have gathered more pointers. There is, of course, only so much that he can do with the group that he has been handed, and the coming weeks are a case of Rangers trying to hold on before they can get to the January transfer window.
The gap to Hearts almost has to be forgotten about right now. The Premiership leaders are the unknown in the equation, the factor that nobody can really figure out given that we just don’t know how long their title challenge will last for.
The deficit across Glasgow must always be in mind and that cannot be allowed to widen. It stands at five points just now ahead of a trip to face Dundee. An hour after Rangers kick-off, Celtic host Kilmarnock. It is expected that Hearts will take care of Dundee United on Sunday.
Two wins from five matches is not a great start to life as head coach by any manner of means. Both have come in the Premiership and Rohl needs to bring up the hat-trick in a must-win this weekend to raise the spirits heading into the international break. The last thing Rangers need right now is another fortnight-long period of soul searching and finger pointing.
Share