Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton wanted to reunite with James Tavernier in the summer – but Rangers rebuffed the Championship club’s interest.
Carlos Pena was rightly lauded as Rangers’ matchwinner in the 3-0 thrashing of St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Friday night.
The Mexican had come under fire for a slow start to life in Glasgow but showed exactly why The Gers invested £2.5 million in his services, as reported by the Daily Record. Two well-timed runs into the St Johnstone penalty area produced two goals, the first stabbed into the top corner and the second a well-placed header.
Pena did not do it all on his own, however. And much of the credit must go to James Tavernier, who was at his attacking best away to Tommy Wright’s side. The buccaneering right-back produced two pinpoint crosses to gift-wrap Pena’s first ever brace in Scottish football.
While Tavernier remains a divisive figure among Rangers supporters, many of whom believe his attacking intent does not make up for a frequent dereliction of his defensive duties, Friday’s match-winning display showed why the former Newcastle United youngster is so valuable to Pedro Caixinha.
It also showed why Rangers were right not to cash in this summer. The Scotsman claimed in June that Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton, who brought Tavernier to Ibrox from Wigan in 2015, was keen on a reunion at the City Ground.
The report added, however, that Rangers rebuffed Forest’s initial bid – leading the Championship club to complete the signing of Burnley right-back Tendayi Darikwa instead a month later.
A number of supporters had campaigned for the steady, reliable Lee Hodson to be chosen ahead of Tavernier at right-back in Caixinha’s preferred starting XI. But, on form, there are few more fearsome prospects for Scottish-based left-backs than Tavernier in full flow.
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