Kris Boyd has launched a fierce critique of Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers following the centre-back’s controversial post-match assessment of their latest derby defeat to Rangers.

​The Parkhead side suffered a damaging 1-0 loss to their fierce rivals, a result that arrived despite manager Martin O’Neill making several tactical adjustments and personnel alterations ahead of kick-off. In his post-match interview, Carter-Vickers lamented his side’s lack of coherence, claiming the squad performed far too randomly and entered the contest without the tactical clarity they typically expect.

​Boyd, analysing the clash in the Sky Sports studio alongside former Celtic manager Neil Lennon, reacted with fury to the defender’s comments. The former Rangers forward argued that the players are actively dodging responsibility and attempting to shift the blame onto management rather than addressing their own declining standards.

​Boyd pointed out that Carter-Vickers has struggled to rediscover his best form since returning from a major injury layoff last season. He highlighted that O’Neill’s managerial methods are well established, suggesting it is disingenuous for players to question the structural setup simply because results have turned sour. According to Boyd, the current Celtic squad has developed a habit of pointing fingers externally whenever adversity strikes, a cultural flaw he argued was visible under previous management as well.

​The television pundit placed the derby disappointment into a broader context, pointing to Celtic’s catastrophic European collapse where they threw away a commanding four-goal lead in the Champions League, as well as a previous derby defeat seven days earlier. Boyd stressed that even when the Scottish champions have managed to secure victories recently, their displays have looked disjointed and unconvincing. While acknowledging that Celtic still sit at the summit of the table, he maintained that the players need a serious period of self-reflection over the upcoming international break rather than offering excuses in front of the cameras.

​The public criticism reflects growing frustration around Parkhead. While Carter-Vickers may have intended to provide honest analysis, publicly questioning team preparation after back-to-back derby setbacks is always going to invite heavy scrutiny.

​Questions were also raised regarding Celtic’s internal leadership on the day. Carter-Vickers stepped up to handle post-match media obligations instead of club captain Callum McGregor. The Celtic skipper cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle, briefly acknowledging the supporters before disappearing down the tunnel and skipping the broadcast interviews. As the dressing room leader who normally fronts up during difficult moments, McGregor’s absence from the post-match debrief only added to the sense of unease surrounding Celtic during a turbulent period of their campaign.