Rangers 7 - 1 Dundee Utd: Five-goal Kris Boyd smashes Larsson record as Rangers run rampant

Published on Wednesday 30 December 2009 22:27

KRIS Boyd last night savoured the finest hour of his career as he broke Henrik Larsson's SPL goalscoring record by netting five times in Rangers' stunning 7-1 defeat of Dundee United at Ibrox.

• Rangers striker Kris Boyd celebrates his scoring spree against Dundee United last night Picture: SNS Group

But the striker insists he will happily draw another blank at Parkhead on Sunday if Rangers can record an Old Firm victory which would take them ten points clear of their great rivals in the title race.

Boyd took his tally of SPL goals to 160 as he put United to the sword. When he netted his fourth of the night, breaking Larsson's record of 158, he stuck out his tongue to mimic the goal celebration the Celtic legend made famous during his time in Scottish football. Larsson's total does not include his goals during his first season with Celtic in 1997-98, the final campaign before the breakaway SPL was formed. But however contrived Boyd's record may be, it is a worthy accomplishment nonetheless.

Kenny Miller's dismissal soured the evening for Rangers as, pending an appeal, he will now miss Sunday's Old Firm match. For once, Boyd will be a certain starter at a venue where he has never scored for Rangers and seldom played but he is unconcerned about breaking his duck.

"I think tonight is the best night of my career," he said, "because to get past someone like Henrik Larsson is a great achievement. It's one I'm proud of. But the next target is to get another three points on Sunday and I look forward to it with confidence.

"If I manage to score, it would be a bonus, but it doesn't matter how you win these games or who scores. I will gladly come away without having scored as long as we get the three points.

"I didn't set out to break the record tonight and I felt the final score flattered us a bit, to be honest. But it's another great result for us and we are on a roll at the moment."

Boyd has now scored 25 times against Dundee United for Kilmarnock and Rangers but insists it is nothing personal.

"I like them, honestly," he smiled. "No, there is just always a team you seem to score more goals against as a striker and, unfortunately for United, they have been mine."

Rangers manager Walter Smith paid a warm tribute to Boyd, not only for setting a new SPL scoring landmark but also for the marked improvement in his all-round game which would have been noted last night by new Scotland manager Craig Levein who attended the match. "I thought Kris played exceptionally well, even apart from his goals, and he has been performing that way for the last two or three months," said Smith. "I'm really pleased for him, he has been working hard this season. To break Henrik Larsson's record in the manner he did was fantastic.

"Very few players could score the goals Kris does. This season, he has also improved a lot as a player. He had a realisation he had to do a lot more and it has not affected his level of goals."

Boyd's partnership with Miller has been a key factor in Rangers' recent impressive form and Smith is hopeful of lodging an appeal against the Scotland striker's sending-off by referee Willie Collum for lashing out at United defender Darren Dods. Collum would have to agree that the decision was wrong before it is referred to the SFA's video review panel, potentially freeing Miller to play against Celtic.

"I've had a look at the incident again," said Smith, "and I don't think it was violent conduct. Both players were down on the ground and Kenny tried to break away from Dods. He caught him on the shoulder with his calf. It would be a blow to lose him and we will appeal it if we can."

Smith has other selection worries for Sunday with Madjid Bougherra now leaving to join Algeria ahead of the African Cup of Nations, while Sasa Papac and Nacho Novo were both substituted last night suffering from sickness and diarrhoea.

Dundee United caretaker manager Peter Houston left Ibrox last night in a mood of despair after his team's capitulation against 10 men. "That was absolutely ridiculous," said Houston. "We conceded soft goals and the players have let themselves and our supporters down. No United team should lose 7-1 to anyone. I am embarrassed and apologise to the United supporters."