JAMES TAVERNIER insists it would be wrong to question the mentality of his Rangers squad despite the champions suffering another setback in their Premiership title defence.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side missed the chance to cut the gap to Celtic at the top of the table on Sunday as they were held at home by Motherwell for the second time this term. 

Rangers have struggled to put together a run of results since returning from the winter break last month and remain three points adrift of their Old Firm rivals.

A trip to McDiarmid Park on Wednesday night is now next up for the champions as they enter must-win territory and aim to kick-start a faltering campaign.

And Tavernier is confident Rangers are mentally resolute enough to handle the heat during the closing weeks of a tight title tussle.

Tavernier said: "I wouldn’t say it’s been consistency. If you look back at the Dundee United game we were really strong.

"It was conceding a set-piece and not putting the ball in the back of the net. It was the same [against Motherwell].

"We were really strong but the couple of moments they had were finished off. They put it in the back of our net.

"We have to tighten up a little bit more and see the game off, finish our chances. We created a lot and played good football. We have full belief in ourselves and come Wednesday we will be right at it.

"I don’t think you can question the mentality of the side. If you look at the two games against Dortmund there is no questioning the mentality of the side.

"There is only three points in it. We are right there.

"Obviously, we are disappointed in some of the games dropping points but performances have been good and we just need to improve on small areas and results will come."