GERS’ GAME OF TWO TAVS
SOMEBODY should have a word with James Tavernier’s ghost writer – as his pre-match programme notes went from one extreme to another.
After the furore caused by his scribblings prior to the Hamilton failure a week ago, last night’s battle cry from the captain had clearly had the once over, signed off and proofed by someone other than the office junior.
There was no sign of the opposition smelling blood or an inability to cope with a side getting in their faces.
These notes were all about defiance, standing up to their Europa League challenge and some careful editing.
He said: “We are ready to show the Round of 16 who the real Rangers are tonight.”
But after being outclassed by a superb Bayer Leverkusen side, the lesson is all about the need to have something more to back up bold statements.
It’s a harsh judgement on a display from the Ibrox side that was all about appreciating the quality of their opponent.
One that saw them sit deep to try to contain, plug gaps and then attempt to hit on the counter.
Europe may indeed have witnessed the real Rangers and it was one that discovered going toe to toe with an in-form Bundesliga side is a bridge too far despite this season’s host of continental heroics.
A stat that suggested it wasn’t going according to plan was 79 per cent possession from the Germans for the first half hour. But just as it appeared Leverkusen were all about passes and no punch, VAR intervened and George Edmundson’s hand ball allowed Kai Havertz to drill home the opener from the penalty spot.
It was a hammer blow which also triggered some of the home side’s better moments.
Of all the many sideshows to this clash from coronavirus, the state of the pitch and a Bayer Leverkusen boss who already deems this tournament devalued by the fan lockout for next week’s second leg at their BayArena, there was also Alfredo Morelos.
The Colombian has a lot of making up to do after a host of indiscretions and he was handed a glorious chance for redemption but saw his snapshot saved when he should have been shooting across the keeper.
Charles Aranguiz then added a second and the script looked to be all but written.
But hope still springs eternal for Rangers in this never-say-die European adventure as Edmundson made amends for his handling offence by heading home with 16 minutes remaining.
A lifeline had been thrown and the adventure continues but Leon Bailey’s late third may have even the most optimistic believing it’s over.
Who knows? Somehow after Leverkusen’s win last night there may still be a success story to be written, Rangers should just make sure Tavernier doesn’t get to write it.