Rangers' James Tavernier denies pressure jibes from Alan Stubbs
Friday 11 December 2015 15:42, UK
James Tavernier has rejected claims from Alan Stubbs that Rangers are feeling the heat in the Championship title race.
The Ibrox full-back refused to bite on the Hibernian manager's assertion that his side's 15-match unbeaten run is worrying the Glasgow giants.
Rangers remain three points clear at the top of the table ahead of a home tie against Greenock Morton on Saturday, and, with a crucial head-to-head against Hibs at Ibrox approaching on December 28, he laughed off Stubbs' claims.
"We're not feeling the pressure one bit," said the 24-year-old. "I'm literally only thinking about Morton and I don't really even look at the league. If we win this weekend then we will have three more points so Hibs just have to concentrate on themselves and we'll do the same.
"When the game does come then we know is it a must-win game and it will extend that gap between us and them but the games in between that are important because anything can happen. I don't even look at their results but I'm hearing they're on a great run but we have been on one ourselves and it's going to be a good game that day.
"We totally forget about where Hibs are; if we concentrate on our game then we don't need to worry about anyone else in the table. We go out every weekend and we want to get three points and you don't think about anyone behind you.
"The main aim is just to keep working hard and, although people are saying Hibs are behind us and they want to catch us, we just need to concentrate on ourselves and that is what we're doing."
Tavernier also fully believes his team have got enough title-winning know-how throughout the squad to see off Hibs' promotion challenge.
Kenny Miller and Danny Wilson have won top-flight championships with Rangers in the past while the likes of Lee Wallace, Dean Shiels and Nicky Law have collected winners' medals on the club's journey through the divisions.
"I won the league with Bristol City when I was on loan there and I won a play-off final at Rotherham so I'm quite used to the big occasions," Tavernier said.
"I'm sure our lads have got plenty of experience themselves having played with different clubs and gone for titles. They will all want to see an end product after the way we started the season.
"I'm sure that experience does benefit us. If you have experience in the team then it can come through in the big games when you actually need it. When you're playing games and it's not going great for you then you need experience to dig you out and get those three points."
