Kris Boyd, a former Rangers striker, typically delights in seeing Celtic stumble, often revelling in any misstep or lost points by the club.
However, in a surprising shift, it appears he may be hoping Celtic manage to secure a result against Aberdeen when club football resumes after the international break.
This unusual sentiment stems not from a softening of his stance towards Celtic, but rather from his concerns over Aberdeen’s blistering form this season.
Aberdeen have enjoyed a stunning start to the 2023/24 campaign, sitting five points ahead of Rangers after winning all seven of their Scottish Premiership matches.
Remarkably, they’ve also claimed victory in all 13 games across all competitions, placing them joint top of the league with fellow unbeaten side Celtic.
This resurgence under new manager Jimmy Thelin has been nothing short of extraordinary, given that Aberdeen were languishing in the bottom half of the table for much of last season.
Thelin, who took over a side struggling to find its identity, has been widely praised for turning the team’s fortunes around. His impact on the club has been significant, instilling a renewed sense of belief and purpose.
Moreover, Aberdeen’s summer recruitment has been impressive, with several new signings making an immediate impact and contributing to their flawless start.
However, questions remain about whether Aberdeen can maintain this high level of performance, especially as they prepare for a challenging run of fixtures after the international break.
Their first test will be a daunting trip to Celtic Park, followed by a match against Dundee United, and then a visit to Ibrox to face Rangers.
This period could prove crucial in determining whether Thelin’s men are genuine contenders for the title or simply enjoying a purple patch.
In an unusual twist, Boyd – a figure synonymous with Rangers’ rivalry against Celtic – has found himself in the unusual position of wanting Celtic to come out on top against Aberdeen.
It would seem logical to assume Boyd might want Aberdeen to continue their perfect run, at least for the time being. After all, any dropped points by Celtic would benefit Rangers in the long run.
But Boyd, ever the pragmatist, is focused on his team’s prospects and believes that a setback for Aberdeen would be beneficial for Rangers as they look to close the gap.
When asked on Sky Sports whether he wanted Aberdeen to keep their unbeaten streak going, Boyd responded with a laugh:
“No. Obviously then my team would be further down the league.” His loyalty to Rangers shines through in his candid admission, as he weighs up the potential repercussions of Aberdeen continuing their winning ways.
He elaborated: “I think for Aberdeen, it’s great for Scottish football. We always speak about the big five – Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers, Hibs, and Hearts. The two Edinburgh ones are way off it right now.”
Boyd acknowledged Thelin’s transformative impact, comparing it favourably to the struggles faced by Hearts under Steven Naismith.
“Jimmy Thelin since he’s come in… we spoke about Steven Naismith a few weeks ago regarding poor performances that Hearts were putting in, and that had continued from last season.”
He was quick to point out the impressive job Thelin has done since taking over, drawing attention to the solid foundation laid by Peter Leven at the end of last season:
“When you look at Aberdeen under Peter Leven last year, there was a good end to the season. They’ve definitely kicked on from there.”
While Boyd believes Aberdeen will face a stern test against Celtic, he also feels they’ve made tremendous progress:
“You look at the start they’ve had, it’s been excellent. It’s going to be a difficult game next weekend for Aberdeen at Celtic Park, but you look at where they were to where they are now, and it’s night and day.”
Despite his hope for a slip-up, Boyd still tipped Aberdeen to continue their strong run, noting their solidity at both ends of the pitch.
“They will continue to win games of football,” he added.
“They defend well and they’ve got threats at the top end of the pitch.”
He also highlighted the form of striker Kevin Nisbet, recently recalled to the Scotland squad, as a key factor in their success.
In the end, Boyd offered a playful admission regarding Aberdeen’s fortunes:
“Right now, everything seems to be going well for Jimmy Thelin, and I’d love to say long may it continue – but I’d be lying!”