Rangers captain James Tavernier may have ended Celtic player’s career as ‘brutal’ verdict delivered
James Tavernier scored a delightful goal for Rangers in their showdown with Celtic, but unfortunately it proved nothing more than a consolation.
The ever-reliable captain sent a free-kick into the top-left corner from 20 yards to give the Gers hope with three minutes of normal time to play.
That came after goals from Paulo Bernardo and Kyogo Furuhashi had given Rangers – who had Leon Balogun dismissed – a mountain to climb.
While the Light Blues could not make their pressure tell in the remaining time, Tavernier’s strike may have lasting ramifications for Celtic.
In the view of presenter Peter Martin, Tavernier’s goal is further proof that Celtic keeper Joe Hart’s time at the club is now up.
“Can I be brutal?” Martin asked on PLZ Soccer’s review of the match [30 December]. “I think Joe Hart’s time at Celtic will be up in the summer.
“I think he’ll be replaced. Celtic need a goalkeeper of similar standing to Hart from four or five years ago, which is going to be difficult.
“He’s at fault because when you’re a goalkeeper, you do your homework – which way does the player take the penalty, a free-kick?
“Tavernier, more times than not, goes that way across the wall. You have to position yourself.
“Looking at the evidence in front of me, Joe Hart in suspect from free-kicks and was again found wanting today. That was a real boo-boo.”
As footage shared by Sky Sports Scotland on Twitter [30 December] shows, Hart probably should have done more to get to the free-kick.
That is not to take anything away from the quality of Tavernier’s finish at all, but Hart seemed well positioned and the ball travelled a long way.
This is not the first time Hart has failed to keep out a strike from range, and he famously struggles to keep out shots down to his left.
Not that Tavernier and Rangers will care, but this consolation strike could well cause some murmurings behind the scenes at Parkhead.
Rangers’ own shortcomings were highlighted in the defeat – and it is fair to say that it is not a new goalkeeper that is needed.
Cyriel Dessers showed he is not up to the task of leading the line, while Abdallah Sima was at fault for the first goal.
Another new attacker to join Fabio Silva through the Ibrox door would therefore be very much welcome in the January window.
In other Rangers news, a BBC Sport journalist has provided clarity on an incident that happened in the clash with Celtic.