James Tavernier is convinced Rangers are getting better and stronger under Philippe Clement.
And the Ibrox skipper insists they are a different animal to the one which went down with a whimper in the first Old Firm of the season. Sunday’s League Cup Final was another painful ending to a derby for Clement who is still hunting a first victory over Celtic in six attempts. That form has seen pressure ramp up on the Belgian. But Tavernier reckons the performance at Hampden, which saw Rangers take the lead before fighting back twice in a 3-3 draw to force a spot kick shoot out, was evidence they can match their greatest rivals.
Celtic head to Govan on January 2 for the third instalment of this season’s demolition derby. They hold an 11 point lead over Clement’s side after just 15 games. But asked if they are getting closer to that elusive win Tavernier said: “Well Sunday was decided on a penalty shoot out. We’re getting better and stronger as a team compared to the first Old Firm game this season.
“We are improving as a team, especially how young it is and we just have to continue working hard. That was the aim – to win a trophy and we’ve not done that.
“We will look back on this, find small improvements in different places even like in the second half we have to be more clinical. There was a four vs one chance in the second half and they’re the fine margins in big games like this. You have to take the chances when they come.”
Clement was incensed over VAR’s failure to intervene when Liam Scales hauled back Vaclav Cerny late in the game on Sunday. Former top level refs Des Roache and Bobby Madden were in agreement the incident dig drag on into the box and thus should have been a spot kick.
And Tavernier said: “You see the continued foul in the box or on the line and that is obviously considered in the box. But it wasn’t given. I was too far away to see it. But it’s too late for that.”