A smiling Kris Boyd could not resist aiming a dig at Celtic after they claimed a third stoppage time winner inside a week.
The Hoops left it late once more at Rugby Park, with Julian Araujo striking in the 97th minute to seal a 3-2 comeback victory over Kilmarnock. The dramatic finish followed a last gasp equaliser that forced extra time in the Scottish Cup tie with Dundee, as well as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s decisive goal against Livingston earlier in the week.
Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann was furious afterwards, questioning the seven minutes of added time and suggesting the officials had exaggerated the stoppage period. Boyd, speaking on Sky Sports, responded with a tongue in cheek calculation of his own.
“There were three substitutions at half time, were there not?” he said. “You cannot add that on to the second half. They may as well just put up on the board, play until Celtic score.”
Despite the joke, the former Rangers striker also sounded a note of caution for Martin O’Neill’s side. He warned that repeatedly relying on dramatic late goals is not sustainable over the course of a season.
“You can laugh about it,” Boyd added, “but you cannot keep depending on last minute winners. Celtic are creating chances but not always taking them, and that gives opponents belief.
“Kilmarnock began the match well and the changes definitely swung it. Neil McCann can take plenty of positives from that performance and from the impact he has had since arriving.”