 Quality
Counts
Glasgow Rangers 1 St Mirren 0
Co-operative Insurance Cup 2010
The sign of a championship winning team is
one that can show true resilience and grind out results when
they have not been playing well – a factor that has been
prominent for Rangers a number of occasions this season.
But in one of the most dramatic CIS finals in
recent years, their resilience was pushed to the limit when
following a very poor first half performance and having two
players sent off during the second 45 minutes, the reigning SPL
champions still managed to pull off an amazing get out jail free
card when Kenny Miller headed home the winner six minutes from
time.
Having dominated for almost an hour, St
Mirren will be cursing their luck on how they managed to miss
such a golden opportunity to win their first final at Hampden
since their Scottish Cup win in 1987.
But in the end they lacked the quality in
front of the box, which became even more evident when the Ibrox
side went down to nine men, who were hanging on for dear life,
but still looked dangerous on the counter attack.
And whilst Rangers earned the deserved
plaudits for their never say die attitude, the main credit
should be aimed at Walter Smith, whose inspired substitution of
Steven Naismith for Kris Boyd provided that quality required on
the break that proved to be St Mirren’s downfall.
“That was an extremely sore one to take,”
said a gutted Saints Boss Gus McPherson. “We were in control for
a high percentage of the game, but we were hit with a sucker
punch.”
 “The
players were outstanding and should be proud of themselves,
putting so much into the game.
The name of the game is you have to
take your chances, but that did not happen today.”
“There is no question
that this team will get over this.
It will make then stronger and will
make them have successful careers.”
For Rangers fans
Sunday’s victory is one step closer to a glorious treble, with
the league effectively wrapped up and a Scottish Cup replay
around the corner.
But Smith, despite delighted to lead his team
to such an amazing win at the weekend, was quick to play down
any talk of a hat trick of titles.
“We are delighted to
have won the League cup,” said the Ibrox Boss.
“We are in a fortunate position to
still be involved in another two trophies.
There is still a lot of football to
be played.”
“As far as the game was concerned, St Mirren
were the best side till Kevin Thompson got sent off,” said
Smith.
“Then with ten men we proceeded to have our
best spell of the game until Danny got sent off.
Once we went down to nine men it was a case
of I felt managing to hold on but we managed to break away and
it was a great cross from Steven Naismith and a terrific header
from Kenny Miller.”
“We had to hold on and
we managed to do that.
It was terrific and I am really
pleased for all the boys there.”
It would have been a
huge test for us to last that extra half hour of extra time.
So it was a fantastic achievement
for the players.”
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