After five games, Celtic are sitting nine points clear of Rangers in the title race.
It’s quite an astonishing situation that both clubs find themselves in with Rangers sitting in 10th place in the Scottish Premiership table with Celtic top on 13 points and unbeaten domestically.
Hearts are a close second with just one goal separating the Tynecastle club from Celtic as Derek McInnes’ side look like they are going to offer up a title challenge this season.
Celtic’s win at Kilmarnock galvanised the support who made their protest against the board during the game as the league table starts to take shape.
And what Kris Boyd is seeing now led the Sky Sports pundit to make a title prediction that Chris Sutton wasn’t having.
Kris Boyd says Rangers have no chance of catching Celtic in the title race
Boyd watched Celtic’s win at Kilmarnock, and after Rangers lost 2-0 to Hearts, the Sky Sports pundit believes the title race is over for his old club.
And it’s fair to say, he got a little bit petulant when quizzed by Sutton about it.
Boyd told Sky Sports Scotland, “For me, Rangers are not getting back into this league. So you’re then saying what, are Rangers just going to complete for the Scottish Cup?
Sutton: “You can’t give up after five games, Kris. I mean blimey.”
James McFadden: “What are you seeing though, to suggest they are…”
Sutton: “There’s 33 more games to play, Kris”
Boyd: “But there’s no evidence that it’s going to get better, and that’s it. You look at a cup now, and this is pretty sad, as you say, five games into a season where you’re saying Rangers have absolutely no chance of winning the league.
“But more importantly, Russell Martin’s speaking about the players, the bravery… Rangers have had three home games.
“They’ve had three home games and failed to win any of them. I mean, that would be worrying as well.
“You need to get characters in that dressing room that can deal with the pressures and the demands of playing for Rangers. It’s easy when you’re winning. It’s a difficult place to play when you’re not.
Sutton: “You’re saying with the players they have, as it is, Rangers, after five games are out of the title race?”
Boyd: “Do you think they are in it?”
Sutton: “It doesn’t matter what I think.”
Boyd: “Then why are you asking me?”
Sutton: “Well, I don’t like to see you give up after five games. Usually it’s after 20.”
What a strange answer to reply with when Boyd is on Sky Sports as a Rangers leaning pundit to give his opinion on the Ibrox club.
But it gets better for Celtic supporters.
Kris Boyd is in pain as he says Hearts can split Celtic and Rangers
When quizzed further about the challenge Hearts are currently posing, Boyd believes that if the current trend continues, the Edinburgh club could pip Rangers to second place behind Celtic.
Boyd continued, “Hearts were very good. They’re going to get stronger. There was three or four players missing.
“I think they’ve got every chance, but let’s not be kidded. Aberdeen were miles away last year as well, they got off to a fantastic start.
“It’s very difficult. If it stays the way it is, then, yes, they will, because I don’t see Rangers recovering from this under Russell Martin.”
The pain Boyd is feeling made superb viewing for the Celtic support and with just five games gone, a title prediction like this must be the earliest he has ever called it over the years.
With Hibs up next for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, Brendan Rodgers knows another win piles more pressure on Rangers and more pain on Boyd and it’s not even October yet.
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