Rangers captain James Tavernier has blasted the “criminal” defending that allowed St. Johnstone to equalise in last night’s Scottish Cup defeat and admits that the Ibrox star “have to really, really look at ourselves.”
Tavernier scored the opener in the 116th minute before Chris Kane poked home a header from Saints keeper Zander Clark to send the game to penalties.
The Rangers skipper then stepped up first but saw his spot-kick saved, with Kemar Roofe also seeing his effort stopped by Clark as the Perth side took a step closer to a historic cup double.
Tavernier thinks Clark getting a free header in the box was ‘criminal’ with several Rangers players simply watching on as he rose to head towards goal, telling the Scottish Sun: “We go 1-0 up but not seeing out the game and conceding in the final minute can bite you on the backside, and it did.
“I’m disappointed in myself for not putting my penalty away.
“But we’ve got to see the game out.
“We got ourselves in to a great position to get to a semi-final. It’s not just from the corner, it’s losing it up the pitch, allowing them to go all that way and grabbing a corner.
“The keeper got a free header and it’s in. He’s six feet odd – it was criminal from ourselves to allow it.
“We have to really, really look at ourselves and analyse this game.”
In other news, Boyhood Rangers fan Zander Clark joked he was ‘devasted’ after shock Cup triumph
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