'Startling' – Four Lads urge Clement to make change after what he saw in Motherwell v Rangers

Dujon Sterling’s performance in place of James Tavernier against Motherwell means he must start ahead of the Rangers captain, Stevie Clifford has said.

Speaking on The Rangers Review (6 November), the Four Lads Had a Dream blogger picked out one moment late on in the 2-1 Scottish League Cup semi-final win at Hampden Park on 3 November.

Sterling easily dealing with a potential break from Motherwell’s Jair Tavares in the final throes was a stark contrast to Tavernier’s display, which saw the Light Blues skipper substituted after 67 minutes.

Clifford said: “Dujon Sterling at right-back, and the difference from and James Tavernier was quite startling in my opinion.

“Even the last 93/94 minutes, something I highlighted on Sunday, the boy Jair from Motherwell, he was in on the left, and Sterling just trotted back and took it off him.

“(He) so easily stopped a break on the left-hand side, just made it look so easy, and all that pressure that maybe comes from that was relieved by the fact that he just dealt with it properly.

“The reason I bring it up is because if James Tavernier’s there, he’s not getting back, and as much as that might be harsh, James Tavernier wasn’t getting back 25-30 minutes into the first half when he was getting caught out.”

Time for Dujon Sterling to displace James Tavernier at Rangers

With a crunch Europa League tie against Olympiacos coming up on 7 November, Clement would be wise to continue the momentum which saw his side turn things around in the second half against Motherwell.

Sterling helped to bring much of that late impetus after replacing Tavernier on 67 minutes, and keeping him in the starting side would give Gers the best possible opportunity to make a strong start in Piraeus.

Tavernier’s accuracy from penalties and corners is yet to come to much fruition this season, but his set-piece ability could still help to make a difference late on if the Light Blues need a goal.

The 33-year-old’s form so far this season has been marred with defensive mistakes and the lack of mobility highlighted by Clifford, thus bringing him out of the firing line could be the best possible option.

A changing of the guard at Ibrox was bound to come at some point – particularly with Tavernier being linked to a transfer away – but Sterling’s return to prominence should speed along his transition to becoming first-choice.

In other Rangers news, Alan Brazil and Dean Saunders discussed the potential return to Ibrox of one title-winning manager.

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