Rangers Defender Blasted By Kris Boyd After Falkirk Display: Why Do They Need His Older Version Back?

Kris Boyd has delivered a brutal verdict on the £2.5m Rangers centre-back after a shaky display against Falkirk, arguing that his uncertainty spread through the Rangers defence during Wednesday’s 2-1 Premiership win.

The Glasgow Times reported Boyd’s comments, made during Sky Sports coverage, after Emmanuel Fernandez endured a difficult night despite his side taking all three points. Boyd focused on the opening half incident that led to Falkirk’s equaliser. Fernandez followed an opponent too far, went down looking for a foul and left space behind him. Ethan Ross then delivered the cross, with Kosta Nedeljkovic turning it into his own net.

Boyd saw little excuse for Fernandez’s decision-making. He pointed to a loose square pass after the interval, when Jacob Murrell intercepted inside the penalty area before Ivor Pandur rescued Rangers with a save.

He said: “There’s a tug, but I’d be more disappointed that my centre-back goes in and attempts to tackle like that.

“It summed up Emmanuel Fernandez’s first half. He was really, really sloppy with the ball. You speak about good players making the people around them better — he’s the opposite.

“He makes people nervous.”

Rangers must judge Emmanuel Fernandez on the whole picture

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 13: Emmanuel Fernandez of Rangers is seen at full time during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 third qualifying round second leg match between Rangers FC and Jagiellonia Bialystok at Ibrox Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

That criticism sounds severe, yet the larger Rangers record gives it some context. Fernandez joined from Peterborough for €2.9m in July 2025 and quickly became one of the club’s best defenders, earning a place in the 2025/26 PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year after scoring five league goals and contributing to 12 clean sheets.

He brings clear physical advantages. His aerial strength changes how Rangers defend crosses and set-pieces, while his passing has generally shown enough calm to support a side that wants to build from the back. His first season produced 28 appearances by March, and Nigeria rewarded that form with a debut in a 2-1 win over Iran.

Rangers need the old Fernandez back

That matters because one poor match shouldn’t erase a strong first campaign. Fernandez scored six times in 26 games by March, then added international recognition, and Rangers tied him to a contract running until June 2029. Transfermarkt lists his market value at €18m, although that figure remains an estimate rather than a confirmed fee.

Still, Boyd’s point deserves attention. A centre-back can misplace a pass and recover; hesitation can infect the back line. Fernandez’s response should come through better positioning, fewer unnecessary challenges and simpler distribution under pressure. The ingredients remain obvious, but the Falkirk showing exposed a side of his game that Rangers can’t afford to see become a habit.