CELTIC legend Tommy Boyd pulled no punches as he tore into some of Dundee United’s players during their 4-0 hammering at Parkhead.
The former skipper was seething at the antics of a few of Jackie McNamara’s team.
He accused Ryan McGowan, sent off after a lunge at Liam Henderson, for losing the plot.
He reckoned John Rankin should have been banished after a series of rugby challenges on James Forrest.
And he believed Nadir Ciftci was embarrassing in his efforts to get Scott Brown a card.
Boyd, commenting on Celtic TV, watched as right-back McGowan was ordered off and said: “He’s going to be red-carded. He lost the plot a little bit earlier.
“He’s gone in to do Henderson and certainly deserves a red card.
“There was no chance of him going for the ball. He lost his concentration and that vicious tackle summed it up.
“There is no place in football for that.”
Boyd watched stand-in left-back Rankin send Forrest toppling in the 68th minute and exclaimed: “It’s not the first time he’s tried to bring him down with a rugby tackle. Unbelievable he didn’t get booked.
“He just can’t live with James in this sort of form.”
Later, he added: “It’s been a bit of a mismatch and young James is having one of his best games for some time.
“He would love to play against Rankin every week. He just can’t handle him.”
After another foul near the end, Boyd said of the United defender: “He’s had two rugby tackles earlier and not been booked. He should be going off.
“He’s been struggling against young James. Stunning (decision) from the referee.”
And Turkish striker Ciftci, who was involved in a flare-up with Scott Brown in the 1-1 draw in the first game at Tannadice, also irked the former international defender.
At an incident in the 71st minute, he said: “Embarrassing – that’s the word for it. Ciftci’s jumped up into the air when he saw Scott Brown coming in.
“But Scott hasn’t put in any sort of challenge at all. He’s just come in to put him under a little bit of pressure.
“Scott’s pointed that out to the referee.”
And Boyd applauded Ronny Deila for taking off right-back Efe Ambrose who had been booked earlier.
He added: “That’s good planning by the manager. Ciftci’s on that side and, with what he’s already shown, he could go down at any opportunity.
“Calum Murray might just be deceived. Scott Brown is having a word with Ciftci and probably telling him he’s an embarrassment.”
There have been six red cards in the past three confrontations between the clubs and they meet again for the fourth time in 14 days in the league at Parkhead on Saturday.
