JAMES Tavernier believes Ryan Jack and the rest of Rangers’ new boys will have learned a valuable lesson from the midfielder’s costly red card against Hibernian.
Jack was sent off against Neil Lennon’s side after getting caught up in a first-half melee with Anthony Stokes.
Although former Aberdeen captain Jack’s dismissal for motioning his head towards the Leith frontman has been overturned on appeal, it still damaged Gers’ chances of claiming three points as they were forced to play out the remaining 55 minutes a man short and ultimately slumped to a 3-2 defeat.
Tavernier, who was involved in an earlier incident with Stokes when the Irishman wrestled him to the ground, knows full well the intensity levels among opposition sides spike when they come up against Pedro Caixinha’s men.
And he thinks last weekend’s controversy-filled clash will ensure a lid is kept on tempers when Hearts visit Ibrox today.
The 25-year-old said: “I learned as soon as I came up here that everybody wants to beat us and everyone gives 200 per cent against us, the new boys will learn that very quickly. It will be another tough test this weekend and we have to keep our heads and be focused.
“If tasty tackles are going in then people can get caught up in the moment but it is the players that are around you that need to help you out.
“We are a good group of lads and we maybe did get caught up a few times in the moment in a feisty game but it is something that we will learn from and we need to not let it affect us as we move forward.”
The Hibs loss has curtailed the momentum Caixinha’s men were building up after an encouraging end to pre-season and wins over Motherwell and Dunfermline as their Premiership and Betfred Cup campaigns got under way.
While many fans have pointed the finger of blame at referee John Beaton, some have also raised fresh doubts over the manager’s leadership qualities.
Tavernier, though, reckons the problems that arose last week will be put right for the visit of the Jambos.
“It was disappointing not to get the result we wanted but we have reflected on it and it is in the past now,” he said. “You can’t really think about it too much. We just have to set things straight on Saturday and make amends.”
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