Keep it together

Boyd sensed huge mood change inside Ibrox as Rangers faltered in derby.. but says it's up to the players to keep fans onside

- BY ANDY NEWPORT

RANGERS were left swaying from delight to despair as they allowed Sunday's derby fixture to slip through their fingers.

And Kris Boyd believes that was largely down to the fact Danny Rohl's side failed to get a grip on the Ibrox mood swings.

The Govan glee was unbridled at halftime as the jubilant Gers support lapped up their team's dominant first-half showing.

They could hardly believe what they were seeing after witnessing Youssef Chermiti’s sensational overhead kick opener, a goal he doubled up soon after with another clever touch and finish past Viljami Sinisalo.

But neither could the punters grasp what was unfolding in the second period as their bitter rivals suddenly got their act together. And Boyd reckons the anxiety that was allowed to sweep round Ibrox played apart in the Hoops' storming response, with Rangers folding as Martin O'Neill's men battled back to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Emotions are bound to be tested again this Sunday when the sides go at it in the last eight of the Scottish Cup.

And the former Ibrox frontman insists the winner is likely to be the team that keeps the crowd and their tension levels in check.