Kris Boyd nails the Ibrox problem Rangers cannot solve as he delivers Jack Butland vs Liam Kelly verdict

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Kris Boyd has expertly explained the difference in Rangers between playing Celtic or European teams and the bread and butter domestic action.

Rangers are on a dire run of form at Ibrox having lost their last five games across all competitions – that has never happened before in the club’s history.

To compound the misery, the Light Blues have conceded at least two goals in each of their last six league games for the first time in 131 years.

Pundits across the season have debated into the night as to why Rangers are able to perform for the big occasions – Fenerbahce away and the 3-2 Old Firm win are perfect examples – yet can’t get over the line against teams they are expected to beat.

Rangers’ awful Ibrox run was kickstarted by the shambolic Queen’s Park defeat and continued last weekend as Hibs ran out deserved 2-0 winners in the Premiership.

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Boyd highlights differences in Rangers depending on occasion

In between, there were defeats against the likes of St Mirren and Motherwell, and Boyd has now noticed a pattern developing amongst the players and their attitudes on the pitch.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Boyd thinks players are playing for themselves in the Premiership and don’t embody that same camaraderie and teamwork seen in the Europa League or against Celtic.

Boyd said: “I think that’s clear. When you look at the Celtic and European games – when you lose games of football, individuals will get selected and picked on in terms of their mistakes and what they could have done better.

“But Rangers as a team collectively against the better opposition, they know everybody has to perform. And what I mean by that is their teammate will go and cover the one next to them, they’ll make sure they go that extra yard.

“Whereas in the league, especially at home recently, it seems to be the opposite where it’s just a case of ‘well, you’re on your own, I’m not coming to help you, you can deal with it’.

“I just look at them right now and it seems to be individuals are performing at home and it’s not a collective team effort. Whereas in Europe and Celtic games, everybody is pulling together for the same cause.”

Boyd on Butland vs Kelly for Athletic Club clash

Interim manager Barry Ferguson was fuming after losing to Hibs and said he does not recognise the current crop of players as a Rangers team.

Ferguson vowed to make several changes to his starting XI as Rangers now prepare to face the might of Athletic Club at Ibrox on Thursday night.

The Jack Butland vs Liam Kelly debate has been a huge topic of conversation amongst fans and the media, so who will Ferguson go with?

Richard Foster wants Kelly to start versus Athletic Club, as Boyd delivered his verdict too. The Sky Sports pundit said: “You’d imagine there will be a few disappointed players today because he’s going to make changes.

“The goalkeeping scenario – I don’t know what Barry decides to do. There’s no doubt that Jack Butland is Rangers’ No.1 but he’s made far too many mistakes.

“Liam Kelly has came in for five or six games. I know people will point to the so-called mistake against Hibs, but when you look at his performances against Celtic, Aberdeen as well.

“He knows that he’s thinking to himself, ‘I just need this opportunity to get back in’. So Barry’s got a lot of decisions to make.”