THE century will come sooner rather than later for James Tavernier. He is on 98 but shows no signs of being out at Rangers.
It is only a matter of time before the landmark can be toasted and the videos and graphics to mark such an achievement can be posted. The highlights reel of each one of Tavernier's goals for Rangers will make emotional viewing for the man himself and bring back mixed memories for those who have watched a career that is now set to take him to an Ibrox testimonial.
In time, Tavernier will have the chance to pick his favourite efforts from over the years. On Saturday at Fir Park, there was only a frustration that he didn't bring up the three figures by helping himself to a hat-trick in the win over Motherwell.
He had opened his account for the afternoon with a free-kick to bring Rangers level. In the closing stages, he could have added a further shine to the scoreline as another set-piece was spurned and a chance was clipped over the bar.
Tavernier's 15th strike of the campaign was followed by his seventh assist - a contribution which means he has been involved in a quarter of the goals Rangers have scored this season - as his cross was headed home by Fashion Sakala. Once Todd Cantwell and Malik Tillman had also netted, Michael Beale's side could reflect on a job well done as a 4-2 victory was secured and the unbeaten Premiership run was extended heading into the international break.
The right-back has had many superlatives put his way over the course of his Rangers career and it was 'fantastic' that Beale used at the weekend as he described Tavernier's contribution and insisted the century should have been reached. That was a perspective Tavernier couldn't argue with.
“I should have hit the 100 mark on Saturday," Tavernier said. “I was disappointed not to do better with the chances I had and finished them better.
“I got some stick for the last one where I should have gone with my left foot. But I enjoyed getting the win, contributing and helping the lads.
🗣️ "We've put a run together now and want to carry that on when we get back" Rangers goalscorers Todd Cantwell and James Tavernier reflect on the win at Motherwell ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/tUPKRhVCax
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 18, 2023
“I’m really proud of that record. I’ve always loved scoring goals since I was young.
“The tendency has been to move further and further back the pitch so it’s obviously been a bit harder to get those goals. But I enjoy scoring goals - I just wish I’d got a couple more at Fir Park."
The ones that got away will naturally frustrate Tavernier but the goal that he did add to his tally was more important for Rangers as he cancelled out the early opener from Kevin van Veen.
It was scored from an angle similar to the position of his two free-kicks against Livingston already this term. The first was directed across goal and into the top corner, while the second was whipped in at the near post.
Lions keeper Shamal George described Tavernier's talent from such situation as 'ridiculous' following the 3-0 win last month and Liam Kelly referenced those efforts as he praised the 'unbelievable ability' that the Englishman has at the weekend.
Kelly will come in for criticism at failing to stop the strike but the curl and dip on it caused its own problems and the chance to stop it was gone by the time he got near it. The presence of Ryan Jack and Connor Goldson left Kelly unsighted behind his wall but he was honest enough to admit that he was 'half a step' too close to the side that he was protecting.
"It is important that the two lads block the view of Liam and I have just got to hit it on target," Tavernier said before he went on to lament the fact that he couldn't at least test Kelly from a more central position later in the afternoon.
"The second free-kick, I felt, was easier but I got too much on it and I am raging at that to be honest. Yeah, keep working at it and hopefully they all go in."
A foul on John Lundstram proved costly for Motherwell as Callum Slattery - later sent off for a second bookable offence - allowed Tavernier to take aim. The four figures in claret and amber didn't pose any problems for Tavernier as he clipped the ball over and round and down and in and his two team-mates in the wall were able to spin just in time to see the right side of Kelly's net bulge.
It was the third free-kick that Tavernier has scored this season. His record isn't quite perfect but the practice does pay off for the Ibrox skipper.
🔵 Tavernier equalises for Rangers! His free-kick beats Liam Kelly and it's all square at Fir Park ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1kSMljDlwK
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 18, 2023
"No, not really," Tavernier laughed when asked if he was aiming at Jack's head. "It is a big wall and I told him to duck if it gets close to him.
"It is a big wall and close to the goal and you just have to try and get it up and down. I managed it with that one, the second one I didn’t."
From the moment that Tavernier pulled Rangers level, it felt as if there was only going to be one winner at Fir Park. Once again, Rangers showed their character and their quality.
The concession of the second goal was even more farcical than the first and both clearly irked Beale, as well as the plethora of chances that were missed on the day. As Tavernier and Antonio Colak left the loose ball to one another, Bevis Mugabi bundled it over the line to give Motherwell hope.
It was short lived, though. Cantwell scrambled home at the other end just minutes later and a strike of real quality from Tillman was worthy of winning any fixture as Rangers came from behind to emerge victorious once again under Beale's guidance.
"I feel that when we go down that it’s still always possible to get the result we want," Tavernier said. “There’s been a few times when we’ve gone to Fir Park and gone a goal down and I’ve got the first goal to equalise it.
“But it’s good to show that resilience. We’re just happy that we finished the second half better than we started the first.
“You need that resilience as a foundation. Not just this season, but in seasons going forward we’ll need that resilience and character in the team when we play for a massive club like this if we’re to move forward.
“It’s important that we have a good break, come back where we left off and keep pushing hard."
That break will give several members of Beale's squad a chance to regroup and reset ahead of the final stages of a campaign that promised much and has delivered little so far. It must, though, see the Scottish Cup returned.
The visit of Dundee United will be the last warm-up before the Old Firm meet once again. The chance to move within 90 minutes of the silverware is all the motivation that Rangers require but there is also an opportunity to prove a point following the manner of their defeat in the Viaplay Cup final.
"We have to because we knew the performance in the final wasn’t good enough from our point of view," Tavernier said. when asked if Celtic will see a different Rangers when they meet once again at Hampden. "There is way more to give from us. So, yeah, definitely."
