Rangers ‘so lucky’ over James Tavernier for Celtic clash, captain could now score 30-yard winner
Rangers are “so lucky” to have James Tavernier as he is “so dangerous” in big moments and could well be the man to score a crucial winner against Celtic, says Derek Ferguson.
The Gers captain became the highest scoring British defender in history with his opener against Hibs in last weekend’s 3-1 victory with his 131st striker [BBC Sport, 31 March] and has regularly stepped up at important times.
They don’t come much more important than Sunday’s visit of Brendan Rodgers and company with the title hanging in the balance and ex-Ibrox midfielder Ferguson believes there is a strong chance that if anyone is going to be the match-winner for Philippe Clement it will be the English defender.
He exclusively told Ibrox News: “He’s one of the guys with free kicks, 30-35 yards out, you could maybe put your house on him sticking it in the top corner, he’s so dangerous.
“And the thing is he loves the big games, he loves when the pressure is on, that’s when he comes up with the goods. That’s why he’s captain of the football club. It’s alright doing it when you’re winning three or four nothing. But he’s come up with big moments over the course of the last few years.
“Would it surprise me if he was to score the winner and stick one in from 30 yards out into the top corner from a free kick or from open play? I wouldn’t be surprised whatsoever.
“That’s the class of the guy, that’s the quality of the player. We’re just so lucky that we’ve got him.”
Captain to take Rangers back above Celtic to SPFL summit?
The record broken last week was the latest reminder that however difficult things have been during his time at Ibrox they would have been far worse without Tavernier in the side.
It was the captain who scored the goal which won the first trophy of the Clement era in the Viaplay Cup victory over Aberdeen and he could help take his side a big step towards adding another if he can do similar in the derby.
Nothing can actually be decided by this result, not least since both sides have been beaten by other Scottish Premiership opposition in recent weeks, but a win for either would tip the balance in their favour.
Tavernier has once again been in excellent scoring form this season with 22 so far, one of which came in the previous meeting with Celtic (30 December), so he will want to repeat the personal feat while changing the result.
He has been linked with a big-money exit from the club this summer so if that is to happen it would be some send off to complete a domestic treble on the way out.
In other Rangers news, the rules are changing and it has disrupted an expected move for a senior Ibrox player.
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