NafisaKris Boyd found himself in an uncomfortable position on Sky Sports after Celtic produced a sensational 7-1 demolition of Hearts, with the former Rangers striker facing an awkward reminder of how quickly the Scottish Premiership title race can change.
Martin O’Neill’s side had endured disappointment in Europe against Benfica, while Rangers appeared to be building serious momentum under Derek McInnes after putting together a promising run of victories.
The Ibrox faithful had genuine reasons to believe their team could mount a sustained challenge, particularly after Rangers defeated Celtic twice last month.
However, Saturday’s trip to Dundee proved a costly stumbling block. Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw after surrendering their advantage, missing a valuable opportunity to move above their Glasgow rivals in the standings.
Celtic then delivered a devastating response less than 24 hours later, thrashing Hearts 7-1 at Parkhead and opening up a four-point lead at the top of the table. The result left Rangers supporters frustrated, while Celtic fans had another reason to celebrate at their rivals’ expense.
And when Boyd was invited to discuss the league standings during Sky Sports’ post-match coverage, his reaction provided another talking point in an already heated title race.
Boyd’s awkward moment in the Sky Sports studio
The former Rangers and Kilmarnock striker was involved in the discussion as the pundits reviewed the weekend’s Scottish Premiership action.
With Celtic having strengthened their position at the summit and Rangers having failed to take advantage of their opportunity, presenter Eilidh Barbour asked Boyd whether he wanted to come in and discuss the league table.
His response was immediate.
“No, I will pass it over. Because it doesn’t make good reading for me right now. Well, it does at the bottom – because Kilmarnock are off the bottom.”
Boyd’s answer brought a humorous moment to the broadcast, but the reason behind his reluctance to discuss the standings was clear enough. His former club had missed a chance to move above Celtic, and their rivals had responded by turning a disappointing European week into a spectacular domestic statement.
For Celtic supporters, the timing was particularly satisfying. They had watched their team dismantle Hearts before seeing a former Rangers hero acknowledge that the league table was not making pleasant reading from his perspective.
The exchange quickly became a talking point because it captured the contrast between the two Glasgow clubs’ weekends.
Rangers’ winning run comes at a costly moment to an end
McInnes had been building momentum at Ibrox, with Rangers stringing together a series of victories that had encouraged supporters to believe a serious title challenge was possible.
Their recent wins, including two victories over Celtic last month, had helped strengthen that optimism. Rangers looked increasingly capable of putting pressure on their rivals, particularly with Celtic having experienced setbacks of their own.
But the draw against Dundee interrupted that progress at a crucial moment.
Rangers had taken the lead through Badredine Bouanani and Nico Raskin, only for Callum Jones to punish a costly mistake by Dan Neil and earn Dundee a point.
The result meant Rangers missed the opportunity to move above Celtic, leaving the door open for O’Neill’s men to extend their advantage.
Celtic needed no second invitation. Their 7-1 victory over Hearts moved them four points clear of Rangers and eight ahead of the Edinburgh side, dramatically changing the mood surrounding the title race.
For McInnes, the challenge now is to ensure that one frustrating result does not undermine the progress his team had made during its winning run.
Celtic’s response leaves Rangers facing uncomfortable questions
The most frustrating aspect for Rangers supporters is that Celtic had not been entirely convincing in the days leading up to their demolition of Hearts.
Their European defeat against Benfica had raised questions about their form, giving Rangers an opportunity to capitalise if they could maintain their own momentum.
Instead, Celtic responded with seven goals in a commanding display that underlined their attacking quality and restored confidence around Parkhead.
Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren helped set the tone early, while Callum Osmand, Camilo Duran and further contributions from Nygren added to Hearts’ misery. Celtic went into half-time 5-1 ahead before completing the rout after the break.
It was a result that strengthened their position at the top while putting the pressure back on Rangers.
The four-point gap is not insurmountable, especially with plenty of football remaining and the Glasgow rivals having already traded important victories this season. However, Rangers can no longer afford to assume Celtic will continue dropping points.
Their draw against Dundee has made the task more difficult, particularly after Celtic demonstrated how quickly they can rediscover their confidence.
Celtic fans have another reason to mock Boyd
Boyd’s reaction to the league-table question gave Celtic supporters an opportunity to enjoy the weekend’s developments even further.
The former Rangers striker has long been a prominent voice in Scottish football, and his Ibrox connections mean his reactions to Celtic results often attract attention.
This time, the contrast was difficult to ignore. Rangers had dropped points on Saturday, Celtic had scored seven goals on Sunday, and Boyd openly admitted that the standings were not making good reading for him.
For Hoops supporters, it was an amusing moment that reflected the shift in momentum after a weekend that had initially offered Rangers a chance to strengthen their position.
However, the title race is far from decided. Rangers have already shown they can beat Celtic, and McInnes will be determined to get his side back to winning ways quickly.
The immediate pressure, though, has increased. Celtic are four points clear, their confidence has received a major boost, and Rangers must respond rather than allow another opportunity to slip away.
Boyd’s brief exchange in the Sky Sports studio may have been light-hearted, but the circumstances behind it tell a more serious story for his former club.
Rangers had looked like genuine title contenders during their winning run. One costly draw against Dundee, followed by Celtic’s seven-goal statement, has left them chasing again — and given Celtic supporters plenty of ammunition to mock their rivals.
Nafisa
