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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Stewart Wilson

Kris Boyd doubles down on Aberdeen claim as he points to Celtic player differences

Rangers hero Kris Boyd has doubled down on his claim hat Aberdeen always raise their game against the Ibrox club.

The former Scotland international made the statement after Barry Robson's men conceded three goals late into injury time against Celtic in their last league fixture.

That match ended 6-0 and Boyd was far from impressed, stating at full time that despite the result the Dons would have no problem getting themselves up for the visit of Philippe Clement's side to Pittodrie on Sunday.

And the 40-year-old stands by his claim. Writing in the Scottish Sun, he said: "Aberdeen always raise their game against my old club. Fact.

"That doesn’t mean they ‘lie down’ to Celtic or any other team in the league — those words have never left my mouth, and they never will, because I don’t believe that.

"But they absolutely make life harder for Rangers. Why is that? Well, it’s simple. It’s because their supporters have more of a vitriolic hatred of Rangers than they have for any other club. Celtic included.

"I can remember going to Pittodrie when I was a young player at Kilmarnock and walking in and out of the stadium without anyone uttering as much as a peep in my direction.

"Yet when I went back, during my second spell at Rugby Park, the abuse hurled my way was off the charts. "Funny that, eh?"

Boyd says he still receives abuse from fans at Pittodrie as a pundit and pointed to Ryan Jack and Scott Wright as former Aberdeen players who receive similar treatment while playing for Rangers.

He also claims that former Celtic players such as Jonny Hayes do not face the same scrutiny.

"Even now, working for Sky, you can guarantee I’ll be berated from start to finish whenever I go up there," he continued.

"All because I happened to pull on a light blue jersey during my playing days. Ryan Jack and Scott Wright get booed every time they touch the ball up there, yet Jonny Hayes and Ryan Christie went back as Celtic players without a problem.

"It was also mentioned the other day that Greg Stewart’s move to Rangers from Aberdeen was kept hush-hush because of the fears over the reaction from fans."

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