Tierney v Tavernier? It’s a case won by the defence

BEFORE they started bickering over the merits of Odsonne Edouard and Alfredo Morelos, supporters of Celtic and Rangers shared a different battleground. A debate over the best full-back in the Premiership is a bit like judging the best-dressed man in Albania. It doesn’t count for much in the bigger picture. Yet when Kieran Tierney was still a Celtic stalwart, some Rangers fans argued James Tavernier was a better player. The transfer market settled the issue. The minute Arsenal agreed to pay a record fee of £25million for the Scotland international, it was game over. Make no mistake, there was interest in Tavernier. But when push came to shove, clubs in England’s Premier League wouldn’t pay the money. And Thursday night might explain why. While Tierney earned rave reviews for his Arsenal European debut in a 4-0 romp over Standard Liege, Tavernier endured a horrible night in Switzerland. Last weekend, the Rangers skipper smashed two penalties past Aberdeen in an emphatic 5-0 win. The other night he sold two goals against Swiss champions Young Boys to condemn his side to a stoppage-time defeat. Steven Gerrard claimed Rangers were denied a glaring second-half penalty and he was spot on. A penalty might have improved Tav’s night no end. But the way he played, you wouldn’t have staked your last tenner on him scoring. Every player has a bad run of form, and he’s not suddenly a bad player. If he could play right-back for Scotland, he’d already be sitting on 50 caps with a picture hanging in the SFA Hall of Fame. Yet for any full-back, an ability to chip in with penalties and assists is a bonus. The day job is showing he can be counted on to stop the other team scoring goals. And on that score, there can’t be too much of a debate left. It’s Gunner Tierney every time.