Boyd at the double as Rangers close on Celtic

Kris Boyd scored two goals inside the final 10 minutes as Rangers won 3-0 away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday to close to within five points of Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic.

The Hoops 2-2 draw with Dundee United on Saturday had been a boost for their arch Glasgow rivals even before Rangers kicked-off against bottom-of-the-table Caley Thistle.

But it was not until the first minute of the second-half, when Pedro Mendes curled a 22-yard shot into the top corner, that Rangers went ahead.

Even then it still took Rangers until the 81st minute to really capitalise on reigning champions Celtic's slip-up when Boyd's low shot made it 2-0.

And three minutes from time, Boyd grabbed his second goal when he headed in substitute Chris Burke's cross from close range.

“We were poor in the first half but we got the goal early in the second half and that gave us the lift we needed to go on and win the game. In the end I felt we deserved the victory,” said Rangers boss Walter Smith.

Inverness manager Craig Brewster admitted his side paid a heavy price for not converting their chances.

“I thought the boys performed well in the first half and I felt we had the better chances. However you have got to score against the big teams,” he said.