Davis not prepared to assign any blame

FOR James Tavernier, the past week has provided the most painful illustration of just how cruel football’s fickle fortunes can be.

A two-goal hero as Aberdeen were dismantled last weekend, there was just no escaping the skipper’s culpability as Rangers surrendered three points in Bern.

To have been guilty of sloppiness once as Roger Assale levelled Alfredo Morelos’ goal would have been grim enough. To be caught out yet again as one point became zero through his gift to Christian Fassnacht at the death made for a thoroughly miserable experience.

Circling the wagons after seeing the game turned on its head, Steven Davis perhaps had a point when he said that blame should be apportioned throughout the side.

It’s fair to say, though, that his words of support would cut little ice with the man wearing the armband.

‘Listen, it was a team effort and it wasn’t down to any one individual,’ said the Northern Irishman. ‘We are not laying the blame at anyone’s feet and we have all got to take responsibility in the second half. We need to do more on the ball, for me, and that goes throughout the team.’

Asked if, collectively, Steven Gerrard’s men were guilty of naivety, Davis concurred. ‘I think so,’ he added. ‘Once you get to that stage of the game, you have to see it out. We ended up conceding so late on and that is something for us to learn from.

‘At this level, you get punished for your mistakes and that was the case tonight.’

Before the game, they’d have bitten your hand off for a point. Yet by half-time, three seemed possible. Having ended up with nothing against a Young Boys side who failed to impress was tough to take.

‘It was obviously a killer blow because I think a point would have been a good result for us,’ said Davis. ‘We knew coming into the game it was going to be difficult but we did well and had control in the game and we were patient in our build-up.

‘We had opportunities through Alfredo and then they get the early goal in the second half and the momentum changed.

‘We have to be a bit braver and keep the ball at times. In the end, we are obviously disappointed to concede so late on.’

Reflecting on what appeared to be a clear foul by Ulisses Garcia on Morelos with the score 1-1, Davis continued: ‘It was pretty finely balanced and for all the possession they had in the second half, they didn’t have that many chances.

‘The keeper made a great save from Alfredo and we could have got a penalty as well. We are obviously disappointed because once it gets to that stage of the game you have to see it out and come away with at least a point. That would have been a good point but Feyenoord won as well, so the group is wide open.’

Although it will take some time for the fallout to clear, all is not lost. With each team having won one game and lost one, ahead of the double-header with Porto, there is everything to play for.

‘I think that is the only positive that can come out of tonight and if we get into that position again hopefully we can see it through,’ added Davis.

‘It is difficult and it is very frustrating after the game, everyone is disappointed and angry about conceding the goal so late on. But hopefully, going forward, we will learn from that and it won’t happen again.’

Borna Barisic believes his side should have reason to believe that points can be taken from the forthcoming double-header with the men from Portugal.

‘I saw enough in this performance to believe we can achieve a result against Porto,’ he said.

‘I believe we can go through to the next stage and progress from this group but we need to be better in some areas.

‘In the Europa League, if we make mistakes then we’ll be punished but that’s the process, we need to learn. I think in the next game we’ll be much better.

‘At the end, of course, we are disappointed because a game where we were leading 1-0 went to 2-1 and we lost.

‘Young Boys scored two goals because of our own mistakes.

‘We need to realise that this is the Europa League and it’s a high level and if you make a mistake then these teams will punish you.

‘That’s what happened and that’s why we lost the chance to take home any points.’