Ally McCoist slams James Tavernier after first-half incident in Rangers showdown v PSV
Ally McCoist slammed Rangers captain James Tavernier following an incident in the first half of his side’s Champions League playoff game against PSV on Wednesday (30 October).
Speaking on commentary for TNT Sports (08:10pm), the pundit raged at the right-back for playing a poor ball into Nico Raskin in the middle of the park that led to Joey Veerman having a long-range shot on goal that Jack Butland parried away from danger.
He said the 31-year-old made the wrong decision by deciding to make the pass to the Belgian midfielder, with his keeper ensuring the scoreline remained level in the 10th minute of the game.
“It’s not a good ball by Tavernier into Raskin in the middle of the park,” said McCoist. “There were too many people around him, too many bodies, too much traffic around him and he’s dispossessed quickly.
“He could’ve been tidier in possession but it’s still not a good ball into him initially, I don’t think.”
Should know better
It really wasn’t a great ball into a dangerous area of the field from Tavernier as it instantly put Raskin under pressure in a dangerous area of the field.
While the midfielder didn’t take a great touch, he should have never really found himself in that position when he was facing his own goal so early on in the game.
McCoist’s anger at the decision by the defender was clearly evident on commentary, but fortunately for Rangers, Butland was on hand to beat the ball away to safety and ensure no real harm was done.
It’s surprising from Tavernier to play the ball into such a dangerous area as he knows how big of a mistake that could have been and how it could have led to his side getting off to the worst possible start in the game.
Fortunately it didn’t lead to that and Michael Beale will be hoping none of his players, especially someone with as much experience as his skipper, will make an error like that again on such a big occasion.
In other Rangers news, Beale has freed up wages to bring in a new signing as the transfer deadline approaches.