James Tavernier details his Rangers love for Connor Goldson as he highlights journey of duo

James Tavernier and Connor Goldson scored 16 league goals between them last season.

Not bad, for a pair of defenders in a team that conceded just 13 goals in the same competition over the entire campaign.

And Tavernier admits he loves his defensive partner and the pair have known each other for eight years since they were both at Shrewsbury together.

That’s a further example of just how far they’ve come since those days as they played a pivotal role in Rangers winning title No. 55 and ending the dominance of Celtic.

And the Rangers skipper reckons his old pal is a massive reason that they got the job done and has detailed his excitement at playing alongside him in the Champions League.

They have two qualifying rounds to go and they’ll be desperate to find their way into the group stage, but he knows it will be tough.

He said: “I’ve loved it from the first moment Connor came in. I was with him at Shrewsbury so I knew him before he came here and we gelled straight away.

“If it wasn’t for Connor next to me we wouldn’t have probably got the amount of success we have had this season.

“He has been such a pivotal part in that success and he leads by example day in day out.

“I’m really proud of what he has done and what he has achieved. I just can’t wait to play in the Champions League next season with him.”

Tavernier has been through some difficult times at Rangers where he’s felt the lows of heavy defeats to Celtic and embarrassing European nights in Luxembourg.

But he’s also now ensured his name is in Rangers folklore forever by being the man who lifted the 55th title and he insists he’s stronger than ever.

He added: “It has obviously been a long road, not just for myself but for my wife, my kids and my family to get to this point.

“I wish it hadn’t taken this long but it had and I’ll always be grateful for the learning curves that have come throughout that journey. It has made me a stronger person.

“But winning the league, I couldn’t digest it straight away. It was a moment I’ll always look back on and remember.

“After the New Year derby win we had difficult away games in January at Pittodrie and Easter Road.

“They are obviously the venues that you need to battle to get the points. They were big points and we knew we had to get them.

“What has been so pleasing this season is that we have done well in these games. They might not have been pretty but at times we have played ugly and got the win, and sometimes you have to do that if you want to win titles.

“I’m just delighted that the boys have learned how to play ugly and still get the victories we need.”