Rangers captain James Tavernier is coming under fire for his performance in the Ibrox club’s latest Old Firm derby defeat against Celtic.
The 32-year-old Ibrox skipper is routinely targeted by the Parkhead side and has become a source of ridicule for our rivals as they continue to flex their superiority in the derby clash.
When the Rangers starting XI was announced, there was a boldness to the selection which might’ve had some Gers fans hoping the club could lay a glove on Celtic.
In the opening stages, Robin Pröpper – who also had a disastrous 90 minutes – flashed a header high across goal whilst Cyriel Dessers and Rabbi Matondo had openings, even if they looked offside.
But beyond that Rangers had one of the worst afternoons in recent memory with James Tavernier being skewered by one ex-Ibrox star for his role in the 3-0 defeat come full-time.
Billy Dodds slaughters James Tavernier
Ex-Rangers striker Billy Dodds knows what it takes to overcome Celtic and win at Ibrox.
The former Scotland international hitman spent four years at Ibrox between 1999 and 2003, lifting the SPL title in 2000.
Speaking about the performance of James Tavernier via BBC Sport, Dodds has openly criticised the Rangers captain for what was a predictably dire performance.
More than that, Billy Dodds reckons this afternoon at Celtic Park was one of ‘the worst’ days in Tavernier’s history at Ibrox with the defender a ‘beaten man’ before the final whistle went.
“He has had one of his worst days, Tavernier, there is no doubt,” Dodds said.
“Since the goal, he’s got that head-loss. He’s been spun so many times, he doesn’t know when to deepen. He’s rushing his passes now, too. He’s a beaten man.”
Rangers captain terrorised at Celtic Park
It’s been a long old summer for James Tavernier and it looks like it’s going to be a long old season at Rangers.
The Ibrox captain was the subject of interest from Trabzonspor earlier in the summer but the move never materialised and the ex-Newcastle United star is now in season 10 at Ibrox.
But at 32-years-old, Tavernier’s lost an inch of pace and, especially on Old Firm day, is being routinely targeted by opposition sides.
Once again terrorised by Celtic’s Japanese attacker Daizen Meada, every Rangers fan in the world knew that the same was going to happen again this afternoon.
There might’ve been some who thought the script might’ve flipped but it soon became apparent that we were set to watch the same movie yet again.
When the Rangers captain is one of the weakest links in the side defensively, we’ve got a major proble.
Once again James Tavernier is leaving Celtic Park on the receiving end of a scolding.
