Kris Boyd has been praising Barry Ferguson for leading Rangers to a 3-2 victory over Celtic at Parkhead, despite what “history” implies.
Ferguson gained bragging rights in his first Old Firm derby as Rangers manager, with Hamza Igamane’s 88th-minute winner quieting the Celtic Park crowd in front of 2,500 away fans on Sunday (16 March).
While the result has no bearing on the Premiership title race in general, with Brendan Rodgers’ side still 13 points ahead, it may have boosted Ferguson’s chances of becoming the permanent manager at Ibrox.
Boyd blasts Celtic fans for Rangers claim
Meanwhile, many Celtic fans have been trying to downplay Rangers’ first win at Parkhead in five years by suggesting that the game did not give them an incentive to win.
However, Boyd has torn that argument to shreds by describing it as “rubbish” and insisting that the stakes are always high in an Old Firm game.
The Sky Sports pundit also pointed out how the Celtic fans were thrilled when Reo Hatate equalised for the Bhoys in the second half, only to be silenced by Igamane later.
“History tells you it’s not an easy place to go, doesn’t it?”, Boyd said on the Scottish Sun’s Go Ballistic show (17 March).
“Five years since the last victory there, so to be able to turn it around [is impressive from Ferguson].
“I know there are people out there saying, ‘Celtic are 13 points clear, there is no edge’. Trust me, that is the biggest load of rubbish when it comes to an Old Firm game.
“Celtic were really quiet yesterday [Sunday; ed.]. The fans, as soon as they got it back to 2-2, they were up for it singing and it mattered something then, and then all of a sudden they lost the third one and it didn’t, it became irrelevant again.”
Ferguson to become Gers manager
Boyd has not been passing up the opportunity to rub salt into Celtic’s wounds since Rangers walked out of Parkhead with all three points.
He notably hit back at Rodgers for saying that he has not seen a significant change in the Gers under Ferguson ahead of Sunday’s game.
Meanwhile, Ferguson has boosted his chances of earning a longer contract as the Light Blues manager after winning at Celtic Park just three after leading them to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.
It now remains to be seen if the incoming owners helmed by Paraag Marathe and Andrew Cavenagh will actually hand him an extended contract at Ibrox.
