Rangers midfielder Kris Boyd has made a powerful prediction ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm clash with Celtic.
Rangers take on Celtic in a title race that defines the Old Firm
The build-up to Sunday’s Old Firm derby at Celtic Park is filled with one question – who needs it most? The answer, according to one of Scottish football’s most outspoken voices, is both.
Hearts will welcome Aberdeen to Tynecastle on Saturday, sitting four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership as the division will be split.
Almost everyone in this game expects Derek McInnes’ men to pick up the three points. If they do, they go into the next week knowing that the chasers must keep winning to stay in touch.
The pressure on both Rangers and Celtic on Sunday is enormous.
It’s the kind of pressure that defines title races. The kind that separates the clubs that want it from the clubs that are bored of taking it.
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Gers boss Danny Rohl admitted in the build-up to Sunday’s game that he was surprised Celtic did not win against Stuttgart in the second leg of the Europa League qualifiers after taking a 1-0 lead, and with the Hoops now out of Europe, their hope for a good season rests on knocking out bitter title rivals Hearts.
Rohl’s Rangers are second in the table, four points behind Hearts and four ahead of Celtic.
Victory at Celtic Park closes the gap at the top. A loss, on the other hand, could end their season before March even gets underway.
Kris Boyd makes Rangers v Celtic prediction with stern Old Firm warning
Boyd has set the tone for this game in a brilliant way, and he doesn’t hold back.
“Whoever lost to me is out of it, especially Celtic,” Boyd told Sky Sports.
The former Rangers striker believes the result of defeat will be worse for the Hoops than their city rivals. Celtic have a game in hand sitting in the bank, but Boyd isn’t sure it offers any real comfort given the size of the gap they would be looking at.
“I don’t see a return to Celtic if Rangers want to win,” he continued.
“Yes, they have that game on Wednesday night, but from my perspective, Celtic or Rangers have to win the game to stay in touch with them, or stay close to Hearts, because I think they will get the three points against Aberdeen on Saturday.”
Boyd has no worries about Rohl getting his players ready for the event.
The atmosphere produced by the Rangers support this season has been something to behold, and the former striker believes Sunday will be no different.
“There will be a lot of pressure on it. Rangers are at home. I don’t think Danny Rohl has any problem with putting his team in the Old Firm game, but at home, I don’t think there will be a problem,” he said.
“The fans will be following the team, as we saw against Hearts. It probably sounds like we’ve heard Rangers fans for many years at Ibrox.
“It is over for the players to go and play a game that leads Rangers to get three points, but I will say it again, whoever loses to them is out of it.
Boyd knows it ultimately comes down to what happens on the field. It’s that simple.
Sunday is a cup final in all but name. Title races in Scotland have a tendency to be decided at times like this, and hearts will be watching with popcorn.
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