Celtic still title favourites, says Rangers´ Boyd

Kris Boyd insists Celtic are still title favourites despite his double in a 3-1 win over Motherwell helping his side move within one point of their rivals at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

The striker scored for the third consecutive game as Rangers picked up their third win in six days following defeats of Falkirk and St Mirren.

With their Old Firm foes Celtic dropping two points in a 1-1 draw against Hearts in the early kick-off match the Ibrox side cut the gap at the top with six games left.

But Boyd, who now has 98 goals for Rangers since he signed from Kilmarnock, said knowing the Hoops had slipped up didn’t add any pressure on the Gers to win their game.

“There is always a pressure when you play at Ibrox and in the last two home games we have let the fans down and we’ve let ourselves down,” Boyd said.

“Celtic are still favourites and we will hang on to them for as long as we can.

“We just need to go out and win our remaining games starting with Hibs next week which will be a hard game.”

Manager Walter Smith said the championship would be decided by how the teams handle their matches against the teams in the top half of the table after the SPL splits in two next week.

“The biggest thing is you have got to win the games. We have managed to win three in a six day period there which is a big boost to us all,” Smith said.

Smith singled out Boyd for praise after his double against Motherwell took his total to 28 goals for the season.

“I felt he was excellent today and has been playing really well for us,” Smith said.

“I think for the last couple of months he has played for the team. He went through a spell there where he went a few games without scoring but you know he will always come back and get a goal.

“But it is his overall performances that have been excellent recently which has been the biggest thing. If he plays like that he will always score and get you a goal.”

At Tynecastle, Celtic took the lead after just 30 seconds when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink fired in a shot from the edge of the box.

But Bruno Aguiar’s superb free-kick from 35-yards levelled matters 13 minutes before half-time and despite late pressure Csaba Lazlo’s side couldn’t find a winner.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said he didn’t know whether to regard the result as a point gained or two lost.

“I’ll know at the end of the season. But, at the moment, I feel it’s not too bad considering the injuries we have picked up,” he said.

“We had to deal with injuries during it and a frantic game of football. They have about eight players 6ft and over and they use their weapons well.

“There is a lot of ice in that dressing room – it’s like the dining room on the Titanic.”