KRIS BOYD has sent his club a warning heading into the third Glasgow Derby of the season after previously admitting Celtic are in a better place to win the league than Gio’s men.
The Rangers are three points adrift of the top spot and have a worse goal difference than Celtic.
Celtic played their rivals off the park the last time the sides met, 3-0 up after 45 minutes. Boyd has warned his side that this can’t happen again; otherwise, the league is all but over.
As quoted by the Daily Record, the Sky Sports pundit said;
“You are going to have to start the game a lot better, sharper, brighter than you did [at Celtic Park].”
“The game was over at half-time, effectively, after the start Celtic got.
“Going into the game, Celtic, there would have been nerves there because you haven’t beaten Rangers for a long time, but when you get that goal so early, you’re pushing and the fans are right behind you.
“To lead 3-0 at half-time I don’t think even Celtic fans would’ve expected that, but that’s exactly the way the game panned out.
“Rangers came out in the second half and tried to get back into it.
“There’s some encouragement to be taken from the second half and I’m sure that will be message Giovanni van Bronckhorst tries to get across to his players. It’s difficult with international fixtures this week as well.
“The damage was done in the first half for Rangers and it shows you if you don’t start a game properly you’ll get punished.”
I don’t see why it’s a ‘difficult’ for Van Bronckhorst with players away representing their countries. Celtic have the same going on. It happens every season and three times already this season. Is this Boyd starting the excuses already?
The Rangers have to play better than they did in February; they most likely will. At home, they’ll try and pose a threat to Postecoglou’s side.
However, it’s a false narrative to suggest the second half was encouragement for the Ibrox side. Celtic did their job in the first half and then managed the game well.
It’s set up to be a thrilling encounter with both teams going at it. Hopefully, it doesn’t disappoint, and Celtic leave Govan with a six-point lead.
