![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1_Heart-of-Midlothian-FC-v-Rangers-FC-William-Hill-Premiership.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Ibrox skipper has been hammered for his role in his side’s collapse in the capital that has all but ended their championship aspirations<\/p>\n
20:10, 04 May 2026Updated 20:27, 04 May 2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
James Tavernier(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n
Chris Sutton has slammed James Tavernier<\/a> for ‘killing’ Rangers title hopes in their crushing 2-1 defeat to Hearts.<\/p>\n The Celtic hero insists he has the “heart the size of a pea” with a withering assessment of the Rangers captain.<\/p>\n The Light Blues had led 1-0 at Tynecastle thanks to Dujon Sterling’s deflected opener but shipped two second half goals<\/a> to leave them seven points adrift of the Jambos at the summit with three games left to play.<\/p>\n Stephen Kingsley levelled things up nine minutes after the restart before Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland<\/a> completed the comeback with a superb strike 19 minutes from time to send the Tynecastle faithful into a frenzy.<\/p>\n Last month, Rangers <\/a>captain Tavernier announced he would be leaving the club at the end of the season when his contract expires, calling time on his 12 year spell with the club.<\/p>\n And Celtic hero Sutton insists the 34-year-old’s slack defending on both goals cost his team dearly, describing the right back as having a ‘heart the size of a pea’.<\/p>\n Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “James Tavernier, that sums him up at Rangers.<\/p>\n “He’s got a heart the size of a pea, he really does. He’s bad on both goals.<\/p>\n “He should react and smell the danger to try and block it but he doesn’t. He is so lax there and has killed his team today.<\/p>\n “Mentality all comes from the captain. We saw the pathetic efforts from James Tavernier for both goals and that’s what killed them.<\/p>\n “They have spent a fortune this season, so there will be questions asked. This isn’t a one-off, Rangers choking.”<\/p>\n Ibrox legend Kris Boyd was also on punditry duty and credited winning gaffer McInnes for turning things round after a challenging first half for the hosts.<\/p>\n Chris Sutton(Image: Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images)<\/p>\n He added: “It’s all about that mentality that we spoke about. Rangers in the first half were so far in front and Hearts were lucky to still be in the game.<\/p>\n “But fair play to Derek McInnes, he went in there (at half-time), galvanised his team and they came back out and ran all over the top of Rangers.”<\/p>\n Follow Record Sport<\/strong> on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.<\/p>\n You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers<\/a> page and sign up to our newsletters<\/a> to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.<\/p>\n We’re also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tune in to Hotline Live<\/a> every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On<\/a>, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.<\/strong><\/p>\n Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google\u2019s preferred sources<\/strong>. Click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1_GettyImages-2239197285.jpg\")
<\/p>\n