CAPTAIN James Tavernier was a happy man with how his Rangers side performed against Champions League outfit Lyon at Trophee Veolia last night.
The Light Blues turned in a super show to defeat the French giants 2-0, and despite playing with 10-men for 50 minutes and nine for the closing stages, they kept a superb shape to earn a very satisfactory pre-season victory.
Speaking last night at the Groupama Stadium, skipper Tavernier explained to RangersTV: "I thought it was a great test for the boys, and I thought the majority of the game, we dealt with it really well.
"We got ourselves in front and scored two good goals and could have scored more goals. Every man that came on and started the game was terrific throughout the pitch, and all the young boys who came on did a job for the team and the gaffer was really pleased with the performance."
The organisation of the Gers side throughout was impressive - not least when they were reduced in numbers.
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Tavernier continued: "It almost reminded us a bit of Ufa and how we had to defend with less people on the pitch. We have worked on that - not just on pre-season, but last season on our defensive organisation.
"These big games we come across, the team is really tightly-knitted and it is hard to score against us and I thought everyone did a great job - and for Jon [McLaughlin's] first game, he did a terrific job in the goal."
Tavernier's place in the starting XI was taken in the second half by Nathan Patterson, with the back four that ended the game against Lyon's multi-million euro attack comprised of 18 year-old Patterson, 20 year-old Lewis Mayo, 22 year-old Ross McCrorie and 20 year-old Calvin Bassey - the first three, of course, being Gers' Academy graduates.
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Tavernier was thrilled with what they gave last night, and added: "You want the boys to learn from us all and learn from the coaches, and stake a claim for themselves.
"It's their career and they have everything in their hands to be very good players. I am delighted with the way they conducted themselves in this game - Nathan, Calvin, Rossco has been on-loan and I thought Mayo was terrific - he looked solid at the back and I am really happy with them."