THE clamour for James Tavernier and Borna Barisic to be replaced by Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey respectively in the Rangers starting line-up of late would have been unthinkable last season.

The left back and right back could do little if anything wrong in the eyes of adoring supporters; they were integral to the success the Ibrox club enjoyed in the Premiership and the Europa League.

When the 2020/21 campaign came to an end the dynamic duo were being shortlisted for Player of the Year awards and linked with multi-million pound transfers down south and abroad.

But both men have, like a fair few of the Scottish champions’ mainstays, struggled to find fitness and form since play resumed at the end of July.

Their manager Steven Gerrard has been urged by some malcontents to drop the pair in the wake of home and away losses to Malmo in Champions League qualifying.

The encouraging displays of their young understudies in the emphatic Premier Sports Cup win over Dunfermline in Govan on Friday night fuelled the calls for change even if their opponents were in the second tier.

Gerrard is not the sort to be influenced by what online critics have to say. The former Liverpool and England midfielder has, in the main, defended his charges after subdued showings or costly mistakes during his time this country.

His backing has always been appreciated by his squad members in the past three seasons or so and they have invariably repaid his loyalty with committed and improved contributions on the park.

Yet, the Rangers manager persevered with Bassey, who had set up two of the goals in the 5-0 win four days earlier, in the first leg of the Europa League play-off against Alashkert in Glasgow tonight.

Few in the sell-out crowd disapproved of the decision to leave out Barisic; the Croatian has just not looked himself since returning from the Euro 2020 finals and has contributed little either in attack or defence.

The meeting with the Armenians, who needed extra-time to get past Kairat of Kazakhstan in the third qualifying round, was of huge importance.

But Bassey, born in Italy to Nigerian parents but raised in England, is no stranger to big European matches. He featured against Willem II, Standard Liege and Lech Poznan last term and coped admirably with the step up in standard. In fact, he helped Rangers win all of the outings.   

That the 21-year-old was unfazed by the magnitude of the occasion or the size of the crowd was obvious in the 15th minute when he created the first scoring chance of the match with a penetrating cross from wide on his flank. Ryan Kent, though, was unable to get his head on the end of it.

It was understandable that Gerrard kept faith Tavernier on the other side of the field even if Patterson once again showed what an exciting prospect he is during his first appearance of the season against Dunfermline. Leaving his captain out could have unsettled the balance and focus of the home team.

The Rangers skipper has been prone to the occasional error at the back in the past and he was lucky that Jose Embalo – who was played onside by Bassey – failed to punish a lapse in concentration when he got in behind him.

But otherwise both full-backs justified their selection. It was John Lundstram who incurred the wrath of the home supporters tonight. The midfielder was ordered off shortly before half-time for foolishly picking up a second yellow card. Such an experienced footballer should have known far, far better.

No sooner had Rangers been reduced to 10 men, though, and Bassey had barged his way into the Alashkert area. He was unlucky his penalty claim was ignored by referee.

The 6ft 1in left back is a formidable physical specimen and has ability too. If he can polish a few rough edges he can enjoy an extended run in the first team at home and abroad.

Tavernier has long been hugely influential going forward for his side and showed some signs that he was getting back to his best in the second-half when he supplied Alfredo Morelos for what proved to be the winning goal.