Former Rangers striker Ross McCormack has come under fire after branding Celtic’s 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie a “painful watch.”

His comments raised eyebrows, particularly given the fact he was a Celtic season ticket holder before going on to play for Rangers, something many believe still affect his views.

The match itself was a solid, professional showing from Brendan Rodgers’ side. Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring before Rio Hatate’s screamer sealed the points, leaving Aberdeen with little to shout about. Celtic dominated large spells and rarely looked in danger.

However, McCormack dismissed the performance as poor viewing, sparking a sharp rebuttal from fellow pundits. The exchange took an even stranger turn when his previous claim, that Michael Mols “could have been” better than Henrik Larsson, was dragged into the discussion.

It led to a tense on-air moment, with Celtic voices challenging McCormack’s take and questioning whether old loyalties were affecting his objectivity.

Clyde 1 Superscoreboard Exchange:

Caller:
“Ross, can I ask — just to be sure I didn’t mishear you — did you say earlier that Celtic versus Aberdeen at Pittodrie was a painful watch?”

Ross McCormack:
“I didn’t think it was great to watch, no.”

Caller:
“OK, well I’ll tell you something bizarre. That was a professional performance by my team. Two well-executed goals. Understandable as it is that you have previous loyalties to Rangers, perhaps you shouldn’t let that cloud your objectivity.

It was a positive. But I’m not going to listen to Mr McCormack who thought Michael Mols was better than Henrik Larsson.”

Ross McCormack:
“I said he could have been. He wasn’t better.”

The clash highlighted a long-running perception among Celtic fans that some ex-players with Rangers ties struggle to give fair credit when it’s due. While McCormack insists his assessment was purely about entertainment value, the timing and tone made it hard to separate from old allegiances.

For many watching, the criticism jarred with what they saw as a textbook away performance in a notoriously tricky fixture. Aberdeen were restricted to scraps, Celtic controlled the tempo, and both goals were taken with precision.

It’s also telling that McCormack’s previous Mols-Larsson remark still follows him, a comparison that, for most Celtic supporters, is laughable. Even when clarified, it remains a talking point that undermines his stance on Celtic matters.

In the end, this was a comfortable three points for the champions and another example of Rodgers’ men getting the job done. Whether McCormack likes the spectacle or not, the result, and the gap it opens up, speaks louder than the critique.