RANGERS captain James Tavernier has admitted he has never known things to be as bad at Ibrox than they are right now.
The 33-year-old, who moved north more than 10 years ago, cut a despondent figure in the wake of the 2-0 home loss to Hearts that saw his side slump to 10th in the table and pushed head coach Russell Martin to the brink of the sack.
Tavernier admits the players were ashamed of their display and accepts the current run of dismal form cannot go on.
‘For all the years I’ve been here, I’ve never had a start to the season like this, so it’s not good enough as a team, as players. We have to do much better than this,’ he stated.
‘We’re not creating enough chances in the final third, and on the transition, we’re conceding too many chances.
Tavernier reacts to a decision by referee Steven MacLean
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Russell Martin has suffered a woeful start to his reign as Rangers manager
Rangers players look dejected after conceding a second goal to Hearts
‘So, as I said after the game, we all have to go home and look ourselves in the mirror. We can’t afford to keep on doing this, because, in all these years I’ve been here, it’s never been this bad.
‘We have to really stick together and start putting in performances and winning games. If the performance is not there, then we have to win the game. Simple.
‘I’ll always continue to keep fighting, no matter what situation I’m in. It’s about me, the senior boys, everybody. We all have to drive that.
‘No matter what disappointment is happening right now, we have to respond. And like I said, it’s worse since I’ve been here. And we just have to get better.’
Outraged supporters chanted the name of frozen-out midfielder Nico Raskin throughout the match and called for the head of Martin.
Asked if the anger in the stands was matched by an anger in the dressing-room, Tavernier replied: ‘I would believe so.
“Coming in after that game, it’s embarrassing. It’s 2-0 at home. We didn’t really create many chances.
‘Obviously, some of the decisions, I felt, could have gone differently. The first goal, our goal, but that’s still no excuse for the general game today.
‘I think football has changed quite a lot over the years. As in players, as in characters in players.
‘We’ve got quite a young team. This is new to a lot of players that have come here. But I can definitely say that everyone is ashamed in that dressing room.
‘Deep down, obviously, I can probably say that they’re all angry. Obviously, it’s the senior boys that are voicing that, but we all have to stick together and we have to do better than this.’
“There’s obviously a lot of new players in this team. It’s probably the first time in their career that they’ve maybe experienced this kind of frustration – and it’s understandable frustration that’s coming from the fans.
‘All the fans want is for us to win games and show that we are doing the right basics. But right now, it’s like a light switch. We’re not doing it constantly. And that’s the frustrating part. We all have to look at ourselves.’
Rangers winger Oliver Antman is dejected at full-time
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Tavernier was clear, though, in that Martin should not be regarded as the sole reason for Rangers’ atrocious start to the campaign, which has delivered no wins in five league games and witnessed an embarrassing exit in Champions League qualifying at the hands of Club Brugge.
‘Not a chance. He picks 11 players to start the game and we have to perform on that pitch,’ said the skipper.
‘We had a long, hard chat after the Brugge game and we responded in terms of performance level against Celtic.
‘But it can’t be a light switch and for us to choose when our performance levels are high, because you’ve got to earn the right, first and foremost, in football.
‘Against any opposition who you play, you’ve got to earn the right. It doesn’t matter if it’s a cup game against a lower league team, or it’s a league game. You have to earn the right, first and foremost. We didn’t do that.’
Asked if the players were still playing for head coach Martin, Tavernier replied: ‘First and foremost, the players have to play for the shirt, they have to play for the manager, they have to play for the fans, they have to play for the club.
“Whichever order you put it in, that way, it all comes together. We have to play, first and foremost, for the club. And as a team, it’s not good enough. Plain and simple.’
