Michael Stewart puts moaning Rangers fans on blast as 'genuine leader' Tavernier told he's NOT to blame for crisis

Stewart reckons there's plenty of blame to be doled out but refused to put it at Tavernier's door.

Michael Stewart reckons James Tavernier is a 'genuine leader' - and says the Rangers fans scapegoating him need to look elsewhere in the squad.

Tavernier was at the double for Rangers as they shot down 10-man St Mirren in Paisley, converting from the penalty spot before rounding off the 3-0 win with a stunning strike from the edge of the box. It was a result that lifted the mood around the club but not one that did much to ease fan discontent amid the ongoing crisis at Ibrox.

The Rangers board are on the lookout for Michael Beale's successor and ahead of the clash in Paisley, a banner was unveiled in the away end reading: "Heartless, passionless, leaderless. Not fit to wear our colours." And it's often been long-serving skipper Tavernier who has been singled out for criticism by sections of the Ibrox support. Stewart though feels that is unfair - insisting the right-back, who scored his 106th and 107th goals for the club on Sunday, is NOT the man to blame.

He said on Sportscene: "I don't know whether it's just familiarity or the fact that he's the captain that he gets it in the neck, but he is unquestionably one of their main performers. He's been there long enough that he knows what the expectations are, I don't see him failing to deliver as often as many others.

"He is a genuine leader and I think it's harsh on him when the criticism is levelled at him. The lazy criticism that is levelled at him is that defending isn't his strong point but to a great extent over the years, that has been limited. His strengths and positives have come to the fore.

"James Tavernier isn't the one they should be looking at when they're levelling criticism at the team. It's quite clear it's elsewhere that they're not coming up to the standards."