Rangers manager Walter Smith paid tribute to Kris Boyd after the striker smashed Henrik Larsson's record to become the most prolific goalscorer in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
The 26-year-old hitman stole the show with five goals as the Scottish champions ran riot to notch up a 7-1 win over Dundee United at Ibrox tonight.
Not content to equal the Celtic legend's tally of 158 goals, Boyd's superb solo show against United took his own tally to 160 SPL goals and 18 for the season.
Damien Casalinuovo pulled a goal back for the dejected Tangerines and Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra were also on the scoresheet.
But the night belonged to Boyd and Smith was keen to heap on the praise.
"I thought he played exceptionally well," he said. "He's always managed to get goals and his performance tonight was exceptionally good with some great finishes. I'm pleased for him.
"To break Henrik Larsson's record in the manner he did was fantastic. The manner in which he scored the goals sums him up.
"Few can score the goals he does and he has improved a lot this season. He has accepted he has to do a bit more this season and it's not affected his goals."
The only sour point of the evening was Kenny Miller's straight red card for violent conduct following a clash with Darren Dods.
As it stands, the dismissal would rule him out of Sunday's Old Firm clash but Smith confirmed Rangers plan to appeal to the Scottish Football Association after watching replays of the incident.
"I've had a quick look at it," said Smith. "It was for violent conduct but I don't think there was too much in it. If there's an opportunity to appeal we will do so.
"I'm working this week and I imagine everyone else is. Whether the SFA are open or shut we will just have to wait and see."
With Bougherra now set to join up with the Algeria squad ahead of the African Nations Cup and Nacho Novo and Sasa Papac both struggling with a sickness bug, Smith admits he could be short of numbers for the meeting with Celtic if Miller also misses out.
He added: "We don't want to lose players who are influential for us. If we have to, we have to. But, on first viewing I didn't think there was a lot in it.
"We will be down to bare minimum if we lost Kenny, with Madjid away."
United caretaker boss Peter Houston said: "That was absolutely ridiculous. We got a goal within a minute of the second half and thought we were going to get back into it.
"But we gave three easy goals away in the first half and the fourth was an embarrassment. From then on it was a disappointment.
"We let our fans and ourselves down big time because no United team with the players we've got should lose to Rangers - or any other team - 7-1.
"I apologise to the supporters. But that is taking no credit away from Kris Boyd and Rangers - he was sensational."
Boyd - who also netted five against Dundee United as a Kilmarnock player - added: "I was delighted to get past Henrik Larsson and also delighted to get the three points.
"The result maybe flattered us tonight but there is a team you always score against and United is mine. It's great to get the record but I'm greedy for more goals."
Not content to equal the Celtic legend's tally of 158 goals, Boyd's superb solo show against United took his own tally to 160 SPL goals and 18 for the season.
Damien Casalinuovo pulled a goal back for the dejected Tangerines and Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra were also on the scoresheet.
But the night belonged to Boyd and Smith was keen to heap on the praise.
"I thought he played exceptionally well," he said. "He's always managed to get goals and his performance tonight was exceptionally good with some great finishes. I'm pleased for him.
"To break Henrik Larsson's record in the manner he did was fantastic. The manner in which he scored the goals sums him up.
"Few can score the goals he does and he has improved a lot this season. He has accepted he has to do a bit more this season and it's not affected his goals."
The only sour point of the evening was Kenny Miller's straight red card for violent conduct following a clash with Darren Dods.
As it stands, the dismissal would rule him out of Sunday's Old Firm clash but Smith confirmed Rangers plan to appeal to the Scottish Football Association after watching replays of the incident.
"I've had a quick look at it," said Smith. "It was for violent conduct but I don't think there was too much in it. If there's an opportunity to appeal we will do so.
"I'm working this week and I imagine everyone else is. Whether the SFA are open or shut we will just have to wait and see."
With Bougherra now set to join up with the Algeria squad ahead of the African Nations Cup and Nacho Novo and Sasa Papac both struggling with a sickness bug, Smith admits he could be short of numbers for the meeting with Celtic if Miller also misses out.
He added: "We don't want to lose players who are influential for us. If we have to, we have to. But, on first viewing I didn't think there was a lot in it.
"We will be down to bare minimum if we lost Kenny, with Madjid away."
United caretaker boss Peter Houston said: "That was absolutely ridiculous. We got a goal within a minute of the second half and thought we were going to get back into it.
"But we gave three easy goals away in the first half and the fourth was an embarrassment. From then on it was a disappointment.
"We let our fans and ourselves down big time because no United team with the players we've got should lose to Rangers - or any other team - 7-1.
"I apologise to the supporters. But that is taking no credit away from Kris Boyd and Rangers - he was sensational."
Boyd - who also netted five against Dundee United as a Kilmarnock player - added: "I was delighted to get past Henrik Larsson and also delighted to get the three points.
"The result maybe flattered us tonight but there is a team you always score against and United is mine. It's great to get the record but I'm greedy for more goals."
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