Kris Boyd didn’t hold back in his assessment of Rangers’ latest setback, declaring, “this ain’t working,” after the Light Blues squandered a crucial opportunity to close the gap on Celtic and Aberdeen.
Following the 2-2 draw between the Premiership’s top two in Glasgow’s east end on Saturday, Rangers headed to Ayrshire knowing a win at Rugby Park would reignite their title hopes.
However, a lifeless performance on the artificial pitch saw them undone late on, with Marley Watkins scoring the decisive goal to earn Kilmarnock a valuable 1-0 victory.
Boyd was visibly furious on Sky Sports at full-time, directing his ire at captain James Tavernier and his teammates for applauding the travelling support after what he described as a dismal display.
His outburst was scathing, as he dismissed recent criticism that his harsh words on Rangers were unwarranted, insisting they reflect the stark reality of the club’s struggles.
“Some of the players put more effort into clapping at the end and saying sorry to the fans,” Boyd fumed.
“People will think you are a broken down record, but it has not been good enough. You might be winning games of football, but there is no intensity to the play, there is no sharpness, they don’t create anything.
“It’s more hope that they are going to score a goal. The substitutions don’t impact games, they are miles off it. Everyone thinking ‘oh here he goes again, another rant’—it’s the truth. The sooner that people realise this ain’t working, the better.”😭
When pressed on why Rangers are so far from meeting the required standards to compete, Boyd didn’t hold back.
“I don’t know. You got a lifeline yesterday. You look at it and think there’s a chance to get yourself back in the title race. But it’s no surprise—that result today.
“We said it at the top of the show, Kilmarnock are a physical team and they will cause you problems. Rangers? There’s just nothing.”
Boyd singled out forward Cyriel Dessers for criticism but also highlighted the lack of creativity from the midfield as a key factor in the team’s struggles.
“You look at Cyriel Dessers—when you’re not scoring goals, the striker always gets the blame. But he doesn’t get anything created for him either. We talk about Bajrami—there are glimpses where he looks good. Cerny might look good too, but they don’t create anything.”
When asked by Celtic icon Chris Sutton if the plastic pitch could be used as an excuse for the defeat, Boyd dismissed the notion outright.
“Nah, the surface will play a part if you let it play a part. We’ve seen Celtic and Rangers come here and dominate games.”
Boyd’s frustration reflects the growing pressure on Rangers, whose lack of consistency has cast serious doubts over their ability to mount a title challenge this season.