Worse than Tavernier: Martin must drop Rangers flop who was saved by Aarons

Last-Gasp Winner Saves Rangers, But Spotlight Falls on Underperformers

A dramatic stoppage-time winner from loan defender Max Aarons finally ended Rangers’ wait for a Scottish Premiership victory on Sunday, securing a crucial 2-1 win away at Livingston.

Aarons’ late strike, a fine finish from a Nicolas Raskin corner, provided a vital three points for Russell Martin’s side, who had previously registered four draws and one defeat from their first five league matches.

Despite the collective relief, the individual performances of several players, including captain James Tavernier and striker Bojan Miovski, left much to be desired.

Tavernier’s Mixed Afternoon

The Rangers skipper experienced a game of two halves. He opened the scoring with a terrific acrobatic finish, but will rue a first-half penalty miss that would have made it 2-0. His spot-kick, struck down the middle, made it a relatively simple save for goalkeeper Jerome Prior.

While his goal likely earns him some forgiveness from supporters, his overall influence was limited, as evidenced by failing in three of his four attempted dribbles.

The Case for Dropping Bojan Miovski

If Tavernier had a mixed day, summer signing Bojan Miovski’s performance was far more concerning. The striker, selected ahead of Youssef Chermiti, was largely ineffective and should be dropped for the upcoming match against Falkirk.

His statistics against Livingston paint a picture of a player completely dominated by the opposition defense:

Stat Bojan Miovski vs Livingston
Minutes 90
Goals + Assists 0
Shots 2
Big Chances Missed 2
Dribbles Completed 0/3
Duels Won 2/12
Key Passes 0

Beyond the numbers, Miovski spurned a glorious first-half opportunity. Clean through on goal with the keeper committed, he blazed his effort well over the bar when composure was all that was required.

While Aarons’ late winner saved Miovski from being the scapegoat for dropped points, it may not be enough to save his place in the starting lineup. For the trip to Falkirk, Martin should ruthlessly reinstate the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation and provide Chermiti with a chance to lead the line.