‘Fantastic’ – Ally McCoist raves about Rangers 29y/o who ‘suckered’ Benfica in 3-3 draw
Ally McCoist was waxing lyrical about James Tavernier on Thursday night when the Rangers right-back managed to force an own goal by Benfica in their 3-3 Europa League draw at Estadio da Luz.
Tavernier, 29, managed to get in behind Benfica’s defence down Rangers’ right-flank before driving a cross into the box that was put into his own net by Diogo Goncalves.
It was a comical own goal by the Benfica player but it would not have happened if it wasn’t for the fantastic work of Tavernier on the right.
Speaking at half-time, Gers legend McCoist heaped praise on the right-back.
“It’s brilliant from Tavernier. Watch Tavernier here, it’s absolutely fantastic,” said McCoist on BT Sport 3 on Thursday night.
“He’s suckered them. Watch the run. Brilliant. It’s so clever and I’m going to tell you why because he runs across the line to keep onside rather than straight down.
“It’s so clever because if he makes an automatic run towards the goal, there’s a risk of him going offside.
“He doesn’t. He runs across the line, puts a good ball across and they get the benefit of Goncalves, who should have cleared it.”
Tavernier has been excellent for Rangers this season and play leading up to Goncalves’ own-goal sums him up.
The former Newcastle right-back plays so high up the pitch and has such good a reading of the game that he was able to see Benfica’s disjointed backline, run across and behind the two players nearest him and pick up a pass.
Of course, that moment would not have been talked about if Goncalves didn’t swipe the ball into the back of his own net but that’s the kind of thing Tavernier is able to do and why he is one of the most important – if not the most important – player in Steven Gerrard’s squad.
People go on about Tavernier’s goalscoring record as 10 goals for a right-back this season is more than impressive even though most of them are from penalties.
But the right-back’s overall play is outstanding and something that we don’t think gets enough attention from those outside the walls of Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, Borussia Dortmund want to sign this Gers ace.