Boyd shares late Rangers verdict from Celtic Park ahead of Old Firm
Rangers may be feeling fatigued ahead of their Old Firm clash with Celtic after their mid-week result against Fenerbahce.
As it stands, it seems unlikely that Rangers will look back at the current campaign with any fondness given the failures they have showcased domestically.
A 16-point gap from Celtic means any league success is a fantasy, while exits from both cup competitions has left them with the Europa League as their only remaining route of silverware.
After advancing past Fenerbahce at Ibrox, the Light Blues may be feeling the effects of the clash, though they can’t afford to let it influence their performance at Celtic Park.
Rangers must enter Celtic clash with confidence
For this Old Firm encounter, the pressure is certainly more on Celtic than it is on Rangers given the point difference in the league.
For now, the Light Blues will be prioritising their Europa League run, though they still need to ensure that they put in a performance worthy of a result at Celtic Park.
Having been taken all the way to penalties against Fenerbahce, many will question the fatigue that could be settling in on the Rangers camp, though Kris Boyd thinks the impact of that will be subjective.
Speaking on Sky Sports News (16 March, 9:34 am), Boyd said: “Well, if you allow it to, then [their mid-week extra time and penalties] could have a big impact on it.
“Rangers have got to remember they won that tie. The game was obviously a disappointing result in the end, but you finished the game on a high, and you’ve got to use that positivity from that, coming here today, but it’s a totally different fixture.
| Scottish Premiership | G | W | D | L | P |
| Celtic | 29 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 75 |
| Rangers | 29 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 59 |
“It’s gonna be very difficult. Celtic’s home form has been excellent, and you know it’s a tough, tough challenge for Rangers.
“You’ve got to come across, try and put on a performance that your fans are proud to support you, and I don’t think that has been the case in this fixture for a long period of time now.
Rangers need to up their game from Europa League triumph
While Rangers progressed through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, their performance against Jose Mourinho’s side at Ibrox left a lot to be desired.
Simply put, that performance cannot be replicated at Celtic Park if they have any ambitions of coming away with anything more than a defeat.
Jefte was one of the biggest strugglers on the night, while several others failed to replicate the type of performance that has brought the occasional bit of optimism this campaign.
Three points will do nothing in terms of their league position, but it will give the Light Blues supporters something to cheer about in what has been a dismal domestic campaign.