James Tavernier denies Rangers are soft away from Ibrox

James Tavernier says Rangers will learn from their Tynecastle “speed bump” and denied suggestions they are soft away from home.

The Gers followed up November's 2-0 loss in Edinburgh with a 4-1 defeat on Wednesday meaning they have now lost all four matches away at their nearest rivals this season. They also lost all four away games against nearest challengers Falkirk and Hibernian in the Championship last year.

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Rangers have fared considerably better at Ibrox, with wins over Aberdeen and Hearts in Glasgow this season, but, ahead of the visit of Ross County on Saturday, Tavernier was left flummoxed by their continuing inability to perform away from home against their nearest rivals.

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When asked why, he said: "I honestly don't know. We pulled off a good win at Motherwell, it was one of the best 45 minutes we have played all season. Then we go to Tynecastle and it's a total flip side.

"It doesn't help conceding two poor goals at the start of each half. I'm not sure what it is when it comes to away games but we need to put things right.

"I wouldn't go along the lines of being soft because when we play them at home we certainly put in great performances. We beat Hearts and Aberdeen at home and we beat Hibs and Falkirk when they came to our place.

"It's not a case of being soft because we are winning at our place, they are winning at their place. It's just something we need to correct when we go to these places, and have a real good mentality and a real desire to win the game.

"The last time we lost at Hearts we went on a good eight-game run. This has just been a speed bump and we will definitely have to put things right against Ross County. We need to go on another good run to keep second place."

Tavernier echoed manager Mark Warburton's comments that the Hearts game swung on conceding early goals in each half.

When asked whether Rangers needed to be more pragmatic in away matches, he said: "Possibly. We analyse teams but Wednesday night came down to losing two poor goals. That gives them a lot of encouragement, gives their fans a lot of encouragement.

"It's a different game if Emmo [Emerson Hyndman] puts that ball in the net before half-time. Half-time was best for Hearts the way we were starting to play and the early goal gives them a lot of encouragement and makes it uphill for us.

"We have done analysis and it's two almost schoolboy errors for the goals and then that sets you back."

Tavernier paid the price for the November defeat to Hearts when he was dropped after Robbie Muirhead twice got beyond him to score at the back post but he says Rangers will learn from Wednesday's errors.

"Last time we played at Hearts it was two individual errors from me. It comes down to certain mistakes from different people," he said.

"All the lads will own up to it, we have good characters and we will always try to improve ourselves. There is nothing wrong with the team, we have a great group of lads and we will definitely learn from this."

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