NafisaConfident Kris Boyd tried to counter Chris Sutton’s assertion that the upcoming Rangers and Celtic clash is a “dead rubber.”
But the Hoops’ icon was ready with an argument highlighting the Light Blues’ “loser mentality” as they approach the final derby of the season.
Brendan Rodgers’ leads the champions to Ibrox on Sunday, just days after securing the Scottish Premiership title beyond the reach of their rivals.
Celtic boast a commanding 17-point lead at the summit as they prepare to cross Glasgow—and will be seeking retribution after Barry Ferguson orchestrated a victory at Celtic Park for Rangers in their last encounter.
Speaking on The Warm Up, Sutton was composed about the significance of the match as he pondered Celtic’s drive for the game: “I couldn’t tell you if Celtic are going to take their foot off the gas a little bit but I think if I was in the dressing room, you’d want to be in a position where you went to Ibrox and really rubbed Rangers’ noses in it.”
Boyd insisted: “It means as much to them (Celtic) as it does to Rangers, there’s no getting away from it.
“Both of them will want to win the game of football, Brendan Rodgers will want to win it in style and I think for Rangers, in front of their own fans, they will want to put on a show, finish the season strong against your rivals, but the reality is, once the game’s finished, you need to assess and Rangers, domestically, have been miles off it again.”
Sutton retorted: “But how can you assess it? Even if Rangers win it, it’s a dead rubber.” Boyd swiftly shot back: “There is no such thing as a dead rubber.”
The Parkhead legend declared: “Well, it is a dead rubber. What can Rangers do?” Irritated, Boyd responded: “So, you went into an Old Firm game thinking it was a dead rubber?”
But Sutton was prepared with a rebuttal—referencing the chaotic scenes at Pittodrie last month after Ianis Hagi’s last-gasp equaliser against Aberdeen.
Despite salvaging a dramatic point, the league was virtually out of Rangers’ grasp after the final whistle, with only goal difference preventing Celtic’s name from being etched on the trophy.
Sutton said: “Well, I will tell you the difference between Rangers and Celtic – I still talk to people about this – I still can’t fathom after that last minute equaliser at Aberdeen, the Rangers bench erupted and celebrated.
“That was the league finished that day – that is a complete loser’s mentality. I would have been ashamed”
Boyd stated: “I disagree.” Steven Naismith interjected: “Do you not think that is just from getting something out of the game, in the last minute?”
Unfazed, Sutton pressed on: “Drawing at Aberdeen and you know you are not going to get 42 goals back – what would you have thought? Would you have celebrated?”
Boyd said: “I would have. The point is, in the moment, you are down to 10 men and you have got yourself back into the game – but the harsh reality is when you go back in the dressing room – you have lost the league. It is just in the moment of scoring a goal.”
Sutton added: “The Rangers bench were turning to the Aberdeen fans celebrating – ‘oh we have just lost the league, that is the league done’ – it’s just mental.”
Nafisa
