JAMES TAVERNIER has warned Rangers they can’t afford a false start against Aberdeen. The Ibrox captain is still scarred by a 1-1 draw against Hamilton Accies in a Premiership opener two years ago. Tavernier wants all three points against AberdeenWillie Vass Mark Warburton’s side never fully recovered from that setback — and Tav insists Gers must take three points at Pittodrie. He said: “You always want to set the tone right from the first game. I still remember that draw against Hamilton at the start of the season two years ago. “That has always stayed in the back of my mind, and it’s not a result or performance our fans want to see. It wasn’t what we wanted to see either. So, we want to start with a good away win. “I’m now the captain and know we cannot afford to drop any points at Aberdeen. Accies sealed a point in Gers’ first match back in the PremiershipPA:Press Association “We need to get off to a great start, get three points, and then we can push on into the season. “It’s the first game of the season against one of our biggest rivals so we will look forward to getting up there and hopefully put in a good performance.” Tavernier is now a veteran of the volatile Aberdeen-Rangers clashes at Pittodrie — but will warn his new team-mates that it will be hostile. He said: “I do get stopped by fans in the street in the run-up to the Aberdeen games. “I know all about the feelings, the rivalry and I would put it below the Celtic games. We know the fans will take nothing less than a win and that’s what we have to deliver to them and obviously the gaffer. “Our record up there has been good. But this is a new team and it will be different surroundings for some of the lads, so it’s a tough first game. “What we want to do is carry on the momentum we’ve built up over the friendlies and European games. Gerrard is set for his league debutWillie Vass “Time will tell. But from what I have seen, I’m really excited for the season. “We have real strength and depth, plus the manager and everything that has come with him. There are exciting times ahead.” Gers will need a strong defensive display at Pittodrie but Gerrard has already improved that area of the squad. Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic and Jon Flanagan have settled well in front of returning keeper Allan McGregor. Tavernier has continued at right-back and reckons Gers will be a tough nut to crack. He said: “As soon as the gaffer came in he got in two centre-backs, which I think we needed. Niko and Connor have done really well since they have come in. “Jon has great experience having played with Liverpool. He’s done a great job at left-back. “Ryan Jack has also been great just in front of us in the holding role, but we are all playing a part in trying to keep a clean sheet. Tavernier has been pleased with his side’s season so farWillie Vass “We will stay tight as a unit and it’s working well for us. I have positive vibes that, at the back, we will do okay this season. “We have a new team and you can tell already that we will go through stages when we need to defend with our lives, which we have done.” Flanagan can also play at right-back but Tavernier is happy to battle for a place if Gerrard looks at switching the former Liverpool star. He said: “Any full-back coming in is always going to be competition. “But you need that, you don’t want to be too comfortable in your position. With his experience, it’s good Jon has come into the team. “At the end of the day, I want the team to do well. If he is here to push me, and vice-versa, it can only make the team better. “No matter what, I would always try to push myself to be better than the day before. “I always go into training wanting to work even harder than the day before, and I want to perform better than I did in the last game.” Flanagan has been outstanding since joining from Liverpool and Gerrard reckons he’s really got his mojo back. Flanagan joined Gers in the summerWillie Vass The England cap had injury problems and off-field issues at Anfield — but looks a player reborn at Ibrox. Gerrard said: “Jon has had a bit of a lull and a dip in his career over the last couple of years after injury. But what I’ve seen since he’s walked through the door is he has his mojo back. “He has got the consistency he had at Liverpool back. His smile is back and he’s enjoying his football. RELATED STORIES IN OUR SIGHTS Greg Docherty ‘being targeted’ by Shrewsbury on loan amid Sunderland interest TEAR-NEY Celtic ace Kieran Tierney’s BT Sport billboard painted over in RANGERS colours Strike it Rich Goldson says listening to likes of Gough can only inspire Rangers “He has settled into the dressing-room like a duck to water. The players love him. He is that type of character, very infectious. “Jon has done what we expected. We brought him here to be solid. He is a competitor. “Jon has had that one England cap but he has been around squads, he has played on European nights and played in front of the crowd. So when we were looking for that type of player Jon ticked a lot of boxes. BIG INTERVIEW We expected Alex McLeish or another big name.. then we got Pedro, says Clint Hill “The risk was that he had gone off the boil for quite a while. “But I knew the person, I knew the family. And I knew what he wanted. He wanted that buzz back of being a big player at a big club.” Keep up to date with ALL the latest news, transfers and goals from Scottish football plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
Source: Scottish Sun, News
Source: Scottish Sun, News
