TAVERNIER: THE FORCE IS WITH US

JAMES TAVERNIER has called for Rangers to take their “underdog spirit” into every game.

The Gers battled to a goalless draw at bitter rivals Celtic in the Old Firm derby on Saturday to finally provide evidence they can become a force again.

But Tavernier (above, competing with Celtic’s Moussa Dembele) wants his side to replicate the work rate shown at Celtic Park.

He said: “Every team that comes and plays us wants to work out of their skin, like we did on Saturday to get the result.

“We have to take that mentality into those games because they will work their socks off to try and get a result against us.

“This result sets us up for the second half of the season.

“We can’t drop from the performance we gave at Parkhead because it’s criminal if we do so.

“We’ve got to keep the high standards and demand more from each other.”

The Scottish Premiership now takes a three-week break but Celtic captain Scott Brown insists this draw does diminish his side’s dominant year.

He said: “It has been phenomenal. The run we went on to win the treble was fantastic.

“I’m enjoying my football and we have more belief in ourselves.

“Now it is time for a rest and a little bit of down time and enjoy the family time.”

While Rangers are nipping off to Florida for warm-weather training, Celtic are going to Dubai.

And Brown says the break is at a good time.

He said: “When you look across the board in Europe, that is up there with the most games played and it is just going to get longer next season with the qualification games for the Champions League.”