Rangers captain James Tavernier was a fraction of his usual marauding right wing-back self as the Gers stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Hearts.
Whilst the Ibrox side conjured up a range of missed opportunities fans will have noticed much of the club’s good play didn’t come through their normally potent captain.
James Tavernier has been such a consistent force for the Ibrox club over the years down the right-hand side but against the Jambos the Gers skipper lacked his usual verve and gusto.
Much of the Ibrox side’s good play came through a range of short passing plays in the offensive side of the pitch in a tactic which was some ways away from the normally high and explosive wing-back pairing of Tavernier and Barisic.
Using high wing-backs with a relentless scoring and assisting rate has been a feature of the Ibrox club’s play under Gerrard but not since the Ibrox gaffer walked through the door has Tav, now 29, had such competition in his position.
There is much media coverage surrounding Nathan Patterson, the teenage prodigy to the Yorkshireman, and there’s a growing discussion surrounding who should take the starting berth.
Much of this is focused on the blinkers that fans have when judging young players whilst Patterson’s involvement in the Scotland set-up maintains the conversation in the sporting press.
Steven Gerrard has previously labelled Tavernier as the best full-back in Scotland and now – perhaps for the first time – there’s an increased pressure to prove this at Ibrox.
There is no doubt that Tavernier’s rampaging runs forward and remarkable assist-rate remains an important asset to the side but amid the Patterson conversation there’s an added responsibility to step up to the plate.
Tavernier must recapture the iconic form that led him to lifting 55 if he’s to stave off the competition from Nathan Patterson in the right-back berth for Rangers.
Speaking of Nathan Patterson, the youngster impressed during a recent outing with the Scotland national team.
