Rangers captain James Tavernier targets perfect end to campaign
James Tavernier has challenged Rangers to surge to William Hill Premiership glory with a clean sweep of five post-split victories.
The on-form Ibrox side are just a point behind leaders Hearts, who they visit on May 4 in a potentially decisive fixture, and two points ahead of city rivals Celtic.
Victories in all five remaining matches will ensure a first league title since 2021 for the Gers.
“We can only focus on ourselves, we can’t really focus on anyone else,” said long-serving captain Tavernier, the only current Rangers player who was part of that triumph five years ago. “We’ve just got to get five wins and hopefully that takes us where we want to be at the end of the season.
“That’s obviously the goal, and going forward we’d like clean sheets as well and not try and make the games harder for ourselves.”
With no game this weekend, Rangers – like title rivals Hearts – are currently recharging their batteries for the run-in in the Spanish resort of La Manga.
“It’s obviously just bonding time with the boys, getting closer together,” said Tavernier of their warm-weather escape.
“It’s the last stretch now, so it’s more about getting the boys really together because the only time we had this was probably pre-season.
“This is a time where we can spend five days with each other and just grow together and make sure we finish the season off strong.”
Rangers headed to Spain buoyed by a rousing 6-3 victory at Falkirk on Sunday in which they had to fight back from two goals down.
“Obviously it was night and day, performance-wise, from the first half to second half,” said Tavernier. “We caused our own problems in the first half.
“But I thought the mentality and the resilience from the boys and the reaction, to get that first goal just before half-time and then the second-half performance was really strong from ourselves on a difficult surface against a difficult team.”
Tavernier explained how boss Rohl’s “calm” demeanour helps Rangers in situations such as the one they encountered at Falkirk on Sunday.
“He’s been consistent with that. There’s obviously been moments since his arrival where he’s given us tellings off, which is obviously needed, but there’s a level of calmness,” said the captain.
“He obviously knows what the team can deliver, so there was a sense of calmness at half-time and I felt the boys really responded really well.”
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