Nacho Novo's strike shortly after coming on was enough to see Rangers lift the Scottish Cup.
Rangers secure the double but Falkirk push them all the way
Nacho Novo's strike, 30 seconds after his introduction at the interval, was enough to see Rangers defend the Scottish Cup against Falkirk at Hampden Park.
Last season saw Division One Queen of the South give the Gers a scare when they came from two goals down to draw level only for Kris Boyd to finally win the game for Walter Smith's men.
For the opening 45 minutes at Hampden you sensed that Rangers were in for another tough encounter as Falkirk, who only escaped relegation from the SPL on the last day of the season, outplayed the champions.
Former Rangers winger Neil McCann had two opportunities to put the Bairns into the lead in the first-half after he clipped the bar from just outside the area and saw his right-foot shot from 12 yards whistle just wide.
But Rangers sprung to life with the introduction of Novo. The little Spaniard had been on the pitch less than a minute when his speculative effort on the turn from distance beat Dani Mallo in the Falkirk goal.
Falkirk continued to pressurise their opponents and were unlucky not to draw level when Lovell saw his shot come back off the post with eight minutes remaining.
Dominating
Falkirk's performance in the first-half belied their league position as they took the game to Rangers.
Despite a dominating 10 minutes at the start of the game the champions left the field at half-time with a sense of frustration as the Bairns took advantage of their extra man in the middle of the park to dominate possession.
John Hughes' men passed the ball around at will leaving the Gers to chase shadows in the unmerciful heat at Hampden Park and it was former Rangers man McCann who came closest to breaking the deadlock after 13 minutes.
The veteran picked the ball up 30 yards out and as the Rangers defenders backed off he decided to take aim but with Neil Alexander rooted to the spot his shot hit the top of the crossbar.
Rangers couldn't respond and for a spell found it difficult to get out of their own half and it was McCann again who should have put his side into the lead 20 minutes in.
Jackie McNamara went down the right and his cross found McCann in acres on the penalty spot but instead of taking a touch he decided to hit the ball first time but his right footed effort went inches past Alexander's left hand post.
Finally Rangers notched their first real attempt on goal when Steven Davis sent a free-kick by the left-hand corner flag into the box a minute before the break.
David Weir met it but just when it seemed his effort was destined for the top corner Steve Lovell headed over his own bar.
If Rangers were lacklustre in the first-half they came out of the blocks all guns blazing in the second period.
Make his mark
Novo replaced Kris Boyd at the interval and the Spaniard needed just 30 seconds to make his mark when he spun and shot on the turn to fire home from 30 yards and find the far top corner to give Rangers the lead.
Boyd had apparently complained that conditions were too hot as he walked down the tunnel at half-time, a comment that manager Walter Smith appeared to take exception to.
Falkirk were visibly rocked by the goal but Rangers failed to build on their advantage and it was the SPL strugglers who went closest to scoring next.
The Bairns were desperately unlucky not to equalise eight minutes from time when Lovell saw his shot scuff off his boot and trickle across goal and hit the outside of the post as Rangers began to look shaky.
But despite all their possession Falkirk couldn't muster an equaliser as Rangers claimed the double.
| Rangers |
Team Statistics |
Falkirk |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
Shots on Target |
0 |
| 3 |
Shots off Target |
10 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 5 |
Corners |
2 |
| 18 |
Fouls |
10 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
7 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 66.6 |
Passing Success |
85.9 |
| 35 |
Tackles |
30 |
| 80 |
Tackles Success |
66.7 |
| 31.8 |
Possession |
68.2 |
| 49.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
50.5 |
|
