Credit: Imago / Sky Sports Football

Harri Burton

Sat 2 August 2025 19:04, UK

Rangers supporters appear to have changed their mind on James Tavernier following incredible scenes against Motherwell.

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Russell Martin‘s side came into their opening Scottish Premiership clash at Fir Park on Saturday, 2 August, having just knocked Panathinaikos out of Champions League qualifying across two legs.

The 33-year-old played the entirety of both games in Europe, even helping his side to keep a clean sheet in the opening leg, but his last few seasons at Ibrox have been far from smooth sailing.

Tavernier received hounds of abuse from Rangers fans, with many believing he was not at the right level to continue with the Gers last season, but that may have changed in the first game of the domestic season.

(Credit: Imago)

Eager to kickstart their Scottish Premiership campaign with a victory, new signing Joe Rothwell delivered a pinpoint corner onto the head of Tavernier, who duly obliged at the back post.

It takes the right-back’s record up to 131 goals since arriving from Wigan Athletic in 2015, having already written himself into the history books as a club legend.

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Jack Butland has received similar criticism at Rangers, having made several costly errors last season, but there appears to be a better atmosphere under Martin, and with a host of new signings.

Djeidi Gassama, Nasser Djiga, and Max Aarons have all slotted into the squad seamlessly, with Mikey Moore yet to receive international clearance due to be 17 years of age.

One supporter was excited enough to label the defender an “absolute legend”, while another called him the “best goalscoring full-back in the world”, and with his record, that is difficult to argue.

The veteran has long been linked with an exit from the Scottish Premiership, but with a key goal at Fir Park, fans will be counting their lucky stars that he bounced back from their criticism.

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