GERS TAV TO REACT

JAMES TAVERNIER insists Rangers are only concentrating on themselves after hitting a rare bump in the road under Philippe Clement.

But the Ibrox skipper will have been a relieved observer of events at Tynecastle yesterday as Celtic missed a huge chance to steer themselves in front of the big Belgian’s table-toppers.

Having only had their fingers on the Premiership peak for a fortnight, it looked like Gers were going to let pole position slip from their grasp after Saturday’s shock defeat to Motherwell.

But Rangers remain the men to beat after Brendan Rodgers’ side crashed in Gorgie.

With nine games to go - including two Old Firm clashes - the race looks set to go to the wire. And Tavernier is confident his side can get back on track.

He said: “We’ve got great characters. It’s only the second defeat we’ve had under the manager.

“We’ve got nine games left in the league, so we’re obviously going to fight right until the end.

“That is the mentality we have, and we’re just going to keep pushing ourselves.

Tavernier was sent out to put a brave face on a deeply disappointing performance after goals from Theo Bair and Dan Casey consigned Gers to their first top-flight home loss against the Steelmen since 1997.

“We’re all human,” said the skipper, whose second half penalty briefly brought the hosts level.

“It’s going to hurt. It hurt the fans, it hurt us, it hurt the manager and it’s everyone involved. But it’s about how quickly you bounce back. We’ll look back on it and rectify it going forward.”