My wee Boro is helping me hit the goals trail Teenage hotshot Marcus is inspiration for Tavernier’s dream double against Dons
James Tavernier was back among the goals for Rangers against Aberdeen in midweek.
But the Ibrox ace admits his kid brother Marcus is now more likely to net than him.
The full- back was regularly on the score-sheet for Gers in the Championship but has found it tougher to hit the net in the Premiership.
Despite that he struck a welcome brace to beat the Dons on Wednesday night.
Yet he still knows he’ll have to give up the tag of his family’s most prolific marksman if Marcus keeps up his act.
The teenage winger has burst on to the scene at Middlesbrough and has scored twice in seven games for Garry Monk’s men in the English Championship.
Marcus has already been involved in the England youth set-up and James is delighted to see him doing well.
In fact, Tavernier admits that when he has felt down after a poor Rangers result this term, his brother’s progress has given him a lift.
James said: “I’m proud of him because he got chucked in at the deep end aged 18 for his debut.
“Boro have had a few good wins and he got the winner against Sunderland in the derby. So I felt over the moon for him.
“I actually went down to watch him play against Leeds but that was a hard one for me – I’m a Leeds fan so I sat in their end. I was nearly shouting!
“When I told him I was in the Leeds end, he expected it because he knows what I’m like. Even my mum was sat in there too!
“I couldn’t have stood with the Boro fans getting shouted at by Leeds supporters.
“But, then again, I was almost supporting Boro just because of Marcus.
“I’m so pleased for him because he’s got his head down and worked really hard. He’s only going to go on to bigger and better things.
“He can go all the way because he has all the ability and is still young. His confidence is only going to build.
“I speak to Marcus all the time and he has been there for me, along with my missus and kids who keep me happy at home when I feel down. Certainly, seeing my brother do well is great. The whole family is behind his progress and it’s brilliant to see.
“Marcus has been to a lot of my games for Rangers. He comes up to Glasgow as often as he can. It’s harder now that he’s in the first-team but he was up last week and we had a good time together.
“He has two goals already this season and I expect him to score more than me.
“He’s also in the England set-up so I just want him to keep pushing on.”
Tavernier might not be as clinical in the top flight but he slotted a penalty and finished superbly to put Aberdeen to the sword in midweek.
However, the 26-year- old insists he’s more interested in clean- sheets than score-sheets.
He’d love to get in on the act in today’s Pittodrie rematch – but expects a different Dons side to turn up. The defender said: “It has been more difficult to get goals in the top flight.
“In my first year here, we dominated a lot of games.
“The level of opposition improved once we reached the Premier League and last season things weren’t working as well.
“But against Aberdeen I was happier with the clean-sheet because that was crucial for us.
“We’ve let in so many silly goals in the past few games.
“It was great to score twice because it relieved a bit of pressure on the boys.
“But I would still be happier if we didn’t concede any.
“I actually thought I might get a hat-trick on Wednesday but it wasn’t to be. I expect a different game this time because they’ll come out.
“We hit the ground running at Ibrox but they won’t want the same level of performance at Pittodrie.
“They’re at home so I expect Aberdeen to come out at us with all guns blazing and we will have to do our best to respond to that.”
Before the morale-boosting victory over the Dons, Rangers had suffered a dire defeat to Dundee at Dens Park on the back of a home loss to Hamilton.
And on reflection, Tavernier claims it was one of the worst moments of his Rangers career so far.
He said: “That was a low one against Dundee. We don’t ever go out on to the pitch to lose games. “Against Hamilton and Dundee we just weren’t good enough and the boys knew that. But the way we played against Aberdeen, the chances we created, means we have to kick on that.” “But with fans’ help we can ensure a rapid rise to the top of the Scottish game and achieve our dreams. “It wi l l be an exciting new way to support a club. “By becoming a shareholder with a say in the business, you will have an opportunity to be a key influence behind the club’s major decisions and contribute to the success of the club on and off the pitch.”