Gers boss asks fans to show more support for Tavernier

Steven Gerrard pleaded with the Rangers fans to lay off James Tavernier after the skipper missed his third spot-kick of the season in a 2-1 victory over Motherwell.

Gerrard admitted he would “consider” relieving the right-back of penalty duties after he hit the post while Rangers trailed to Devante Cole’s opener.

But the Rangers manager felt sections of the Ibrox crowd made life difficult for Tavernier when other parts of his play did not come off.

The defender ended up having a key role as his 80th-minute corner was headed home by Filip Helander to send Rangers level on points with league leaders Celtic.

“I would like the crowd to help him a bit more,” Gerrard said. “Sometimes when it’s tough and you are not at your best, you need your crowd to be with you rather than against you.

“So a plea for the crowd to stay with him because he will play through it and he can change games, like he did for us today.

“There were a few moans and groans and it doesn’t help.

“The fans have been absolutely outstanding with me from the first day but not every player can stay at the top of their game for 60 games.”

Rangers did not get a shot on target inside 45 minutes but Jermain Defoe netted on the rebound in first-half stoppage-time.

“Winning ugly is probably the best way to describe it,” Gerrard said. “There was a big improvement in the second half but – over the course of the game – we weren’t at our best.”

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson was proud of his players but ultimately frustrated, especially as Liam Donnelly appeared to have his heels clipped by Defoe just before the equaliser.

“The players implemented exactly what we tried to do and showed a lot of quality. We have no right to come here and show that kind of quality and we did.

“The frustration for me is we got beat by a set-piece.

“I have to give credit, it was a brilliant delivery but we got beat by a set-play and a very, very dubious decision for the first goal.”

Joy: Rangers’ Filip Helander celebrates scoring his side’s second goal of the game with Jermain Defoe