James Tavernier and Martyn Waghorn have both reflected on the end of the week for Rangers and victory over Greenock Morton in the Scottish Cup tie.
Beginning with Tavernier, he more than admitted it was a hectic 48 hours for the club in the build up to the game with manager Mark Warburton heading out the door and Graeme Murty making the step up to first team duties in the caretaker role, but he knew all the players could focus on was getting victory on Sunday.
Speaking to the Official Site following the two one victory, Tavernier explained.
‘The main thing for us today was to get the victory, get over the line and move onto the next round. What has gone on has gone on, and we just had to win today. It`s always a difficult stage when you lose your manager, and it`s one of those things in football where you just have to get on with it. The boys just have to pick themselves up and we obviously go to Dundee next week and we need another three points up there.’
Having had to come from a goal down on the day to take victory, Tavernier also praised the character shown by the side.
‘The character of the team is always there. We were 1-0 down and obviously it was a tense time with the fans, and we can appreciate that. The goal from Kenny was a good goal and it relieved a lot of pressure for us, and the character we showed to get back into the game so quickly was great so see. We have a lot of lads who have some massive experience and we are all trying to stick together and do the best that we can.’
With Hamilton Academical or Dunfermline Athletic at Ibrox in the quarter-final next up in the competition, Tavernier was pleased with the home draw but he knew whilst the competition was important, we couldn’t distract from league form when trying to win it.
‘It`s always good to play at home and you always want to play at home. With the fans there, you always want to win games at home for them, so we are looking forward to it. Our aim is to win this competition, so we need to keep doing the best we can in the weeks leading up to it.’
As for Waghorn, who got the winner on the day, in his own interview following the game he said he was pleased to have repaid caretaker gaffer Murty who gave him the start on the day.
‘I know Murts from playing against him in the past and helping him out with the Under 20s, he is a really good guy and I have a lot of respect and time for him. I appreciate getting the call to start and it is always nice to repay a manager with a goal. As a striker you want to be playing, getting chances and scoring goals and for me it was crucial after a difficult six or seven months this season to do that.’
Waghorn went on to say.
‘We have touched on that before and it was nice to get back in there and hopefully I can keep working hard, stay in the side and really kick on to into the second half of the season. I have a lot to improve on, I was a little bit rusty towards the end and getting a bit tired but that is probably just lack of game time. I felt it was coming and I felt comfortable back down the middle in the final 20 minutes and it was nice to get that chance to work with Kenny. There are positives signs for me so onwards and upwards.’
Of course there were questions about Warburton’s departure and Waghorn confirmed the players found out on Friday evening as the news and statements broke.
‘First and foremost it was important that we got the win, it was a bit scrappy and a bit messy at times but after a difficult 48 hours it was important that we got out there, won and gave us a chance to get back together as a team going into Dundee at the weekend. Everyone yesterday felt a bit of uncertainty but today everyone knew their roles that they had to play. We had to pull together and it is important that you work for each other because it is going to be difficult, there is going to be doubters and there is going to be a lot of stick coming our way. It was important we stuck together as a team, worked hard and got the win.’
Going on to say.
‘There is the uncertainty of what is going to happen next; who is going to come in? Is Murts going to take it full time or what? There is that air of uncertainty; whether you are playing, are you in or are you out. It is a bit difficult but it is important that you just get your head down and everyone essentially has a clean slate and it is time to pull together as a team and go forward.’
