NafisaKris Boyd was left with plenty to discuss after a weekend that delivered two very different results for Rangers and Celtic, with the former dropping valuable points against Dundee before their bitter rivals produced a stunning seven-goal demolition of Hearts.
Rangers travelled to Dens Park hoping to continue their impressive run, but were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after Dundee fought back to claim a share of the points. The result brought an end to Rangers’ seven-game winning streak across all competitions and immediately raised questions about their inability to finish the job.
Then came Sunday.
Celtic welcomed Hearts to Parkhead and delivered the sort of performance that sent a message across Scottish football. Martin O’Neill’s side ran riot in a 7-1 victory, producing a ruthless attacking display that left Hearts overwhelmed and Celtic supporters celebrating a result that strengthened their title ambitions.
For Boyd, the scale of Celtic’s victory was impossible to ignore. Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Rangers striker was particularly critical of Hearts’ decision to continue trying to match Celtic rather than adapt to the threat posed by their opponents.
But with Rangers having dropped points the previous evening, the contrasting fortunes of Glasgow’s two biggest clubs ensured the weekend offered plenty of material for debate.
KRIS BOYD DELIVERS BRUTAL VERDICT ON HEARTS
Boyd did not hold back when assessing the way Hearts approached their visit to Celtic Park.
The former Rangers striker questioned why Hearts continued to commit players forward despite repeatedly being punished by Celtic’s pace and attacking quality.
“There are levels in football,” Boyd said.
He then made his position on Celtic’s standing in the Premiership clear.
“You look at Celtic and they’re still the team to beat in the Scottish Premiership. Rangers obviously beat them here last time but I think when Celtic are on it (they’re the team to beat).”
Those remarks came after Celtic produced one of their most emphatic performances of the campaign, with their attacking players repeatedly exploiting the space Hearts left behind.
The Hoops scored twice from early corners before continuing to punish defensive mistakes. They went into the interval 5-1 ahead, with Hearts unable to find a way to contain their opponents.
Boyd was stunned by what he witnessed.
“That was annihilation. I have never seen anything like that in my life,” he said.
He also accused Hearts of showing insufficient respect to the threat Celtic posed.
“To come here and show a lack of respect to Celtic like that…it would be a wake-up call for me.”
CELTIC’S SEVEN-GOAL STATEMENT LEAVES RANGERS UNDER PRESSURE
The timing of Celtic’s victory made the result even more significant.
Rangers had the opportunity to strengthen their position during the weekend but instead dropped points against Dundee. Callum Jones scored Dundee’s equaliser in the 2-2 draw, ending Rangers’ winning run and leaving supporters frustrated.
Celtic then took full advantage of their own opportunity, beating Hearts by six goals to move four points clear at the top of the Premiership.
The results created a striking contrast. Rangers were left reflecting on a frustrating draw, while Celtic produced a performance that reinforced their ability to punish teams who fail to deal with their attacking threat.
Boyd’s comments also highlighted the challenge facing any side attempting to compete with Celtic when O’Neill’s team are performing at their best.
“When Celtic are on it,” Boyd said, “they’re the team to beat.”
That is a significant admission from a former Rangers striker, particularly after a weekend in which Celtic’s victory gave their supporters another reason to believe their side can build momentum in the title race.
‘THEY WILL DEMOLISH YOU’ — BOYD WARNS AGAINST FACING CELTIC MAN FOR MAN
Boyd’s strongest criticism was reserved for Hearts’ tactical approach.
He could not understand why they continued trying to go toe-to-toe with Celtic even after the scoreline had moved beyond the point where such an approach was producing any benefit.
“Hearts were still trying to go toe to toe with Celtic in 89 minutes when they were 7-1 down,” he said.
He added: “It was incredible. I have never seen a game like that where Hearts have tried to go toe to toe with a better team, player for player.”
Boyd argued that teams must recognise the quality of their opponents and adjust accordingly rather than continuing with a strategy that leaves them exposed.
“You have to pay respect to Celtic, even when they have been struggling.”
His conclusion was blunt.
“If you try to go man for man like that, they will demolish you. That’s exactly what happened.”
Celtic’s attacking pace was central to the victory, with Callum Osmand scoring twice on his first start and Benjamin Nygren also registering a brace. Kieran Tierney and Camilo Duran added goals, while Jamie McCart scored an own goal.
Boyd even compared the display with the attacking football associated with Ange Postecoglou’s former Celtic side.
“That is as close as I’ve seen to Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic team since he left.”
RANGERS MUST RESPOND AS CELTIC BUILD MOMENTUM
While Celtic celebrated their emphatic victory, Rangers were left with work to do after surrendering points against Dundee.
The draw does not decide the title race, but the contrast between the two results has increased the pressure on Rangers to respond in their next competitive outing.
Celtic, meanwhile, will hope their performance marks a turning point after recent inconsistency. Their 7-1 victory demonstrated the damage their forward line can inflict when given space, while also strengthening their position at the top of the table.
Boyd’s analysis ultimately centred on Hearts’ mistakes and Celtic’s quality, but the weekend’s wider story was impossible to overlook: Rangers stumbled, Celtic surged, and the title race gained another talking point.
For Rangers supporters, the priority will be ensuring that one frustrating draw does not become the beginning of a damaging spell. For Celtic fans, Sunday’s demolition provided a memorable reminder of what their team can produce when everything clicks.
Nafisa
