James Tavernier has proved Russell Martin wrong after Rangers exit revelation
James Tavernier was the hero for Rangers once again in their 2-2 draw with Dundee United.
Tavernier struck in the 87th minute to secure a point for Rangers, after the Tangerines had fought back to lead.
Tavernier was a potential departure for the Gers in the summer, but he stayed put, and they are lucky that he did, rather than Russell Martin sticking around at Rangers.
Martin was not keen on the veteran when he arrived at Ibrox, but he has been proven wrong after his exploits this season.
Russell Martin could have sanctioned James Tavernier exit at Rangers
Kris Boyd revealed that Tavernier was primed for a Rangers exit in the summer, after his dropping from the first-team by Martin.
Tavernier, whose contract runs out next summer, was behind Max Aarons in the pecking order in the early stages of the season, and there were suggestions that the ex-Southampton man did not want him around.
After starting the first two games of the Martin era, the Champions League qualifiers with Panathinaikos, and then the league game with Motherwell, the 34-year-old was axed.
He featured for a total of just 83 minutes in the clashes with Viktoria Plzen, Dundee, Club Brugge and St Mirren, with his only start in that period being the first leg against the Czech side.
Tavernier staying was the right outcome for Rangers
Martin eventually turned to Tavernier as a regular after he stepped up when many of the Gers’ stars could not.
The veteran scored in the Scottish Premiership opener against Motherwell, but the Light Blues slipped to a 1-1 draw.
He then scored an equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Dundee in the dying embers and also notched the opener in a 2-1 win over Livingston.
Tavernier’s latest contribution was the late leveller against the Tannadice outfit, as he again proved his value to the Gers to get them a point.
The Sofascore graphic above shows how important he is to this side, and proves that the Bears will be glad that Martin did not get his wish.
If he did, no one else would have stepped up and scored so many crucial goals and got the Govan side out of danger so many times.
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