The sun was shining for the showpiece of Scottish football, the newly renamed Homecoming Scottish Cup final played out in an unexpected fashion, the newly crowned SPL Champions Rangers faced a Falkirk team who had secured their place in the top league for another year. The stage was set for the underdog performance that captures the heart and imagination of any major trophy competition, but surely Rangers would be too strong for them.
Rangers were rocked with the news that the heart of their title winning team had been ruled out, Pedro Mendes and Maurice Edu who had done so much in the league had both picked up knocks leaving the door open for ex-Captain Barry Ferguson to make an unexpected return to the starting line-up, he was joined by Lee McCulloch, back from injury and who also hadn't featured in a few weeks.
The nerves were starting to set in with this news.
The pressure was well and truly on the Ibrox club, facing a Falkirk team that had youth, passion and skill, this was all too apparent.
It was a beautiful day as Falkirk kicked off the 124th Scottish Cup final and straight from the off they done themselves proud, holding the ball, passing superbly, working their way forward against the best defence in the league, slicing through the Rangers midfield with ease.
It was all too obvious that the two central midfielders were in serious need of match fitness, they had no drive, no control and were posted missing for just about the full match, somehow they made the full 90 minutes.
Neil McCann was running riot, the former Rangers winger was a thorn in the side of the cup holders, within a few minutes he had seen a decieving shot skim the top of the cross bar and a volley pass within inches of the post, despite his age he was all over the place.
The Rangers team, as they have done all season, seemed to sit back and invite Falkirk to come at them, the defence, as it has done all season, stood firm, Madjid Bougherra showed yet again why he is by far and away the best defender in the country and why Rangers fans voted him club player of the year.
The first half went by and Falkirk dominated, the two Rangers strikers had few chances and were recieving absolutely nothing from an invisible midfield, the defence stood resolute, every wave of attack was swatted away, Bougherra, Weir and Alexander an impenetrable wall, this was the only saving grace of a pathetic performance, the only real chance coming from a corner, Big Davie Weir's header was superbly nodded over by Steve Lovell.
At half time the news came that Kris Boyd was to be replaced by Nacho Novo, the support was stunned by what seemed an unbelievable decision, the obvious change would have been in the middle of the park but the wee Spaniard is royal blue through and through, it took him all of 28 seconds and all of 1 touch to send the blue half of Hampden into rapturous celebration, a goal worthy of winning the cup, the 25 yard dipping volley came from a throw in and completely outwitted the Falkirk keeper, Nacho hasn't scored a greater goal.
Walter Smith certainly showed why he is the manager.
The Falkirk team were rightfully gutted as they had controlled the match and after some post goal pressure from a more confident Rangers they took the ball back and continued to press, wave after wave sliced through the heart of where the Rangers midfield should have been but every time they came up against a defence that knew it was up to them and at the heart of that defence Bougherra and Weir stood side by side clearing everything fired at them.
Falkirk went with a triple substitution to bolster their attack in search of an equaliser and it nearly became another case of the super sub with all three players linking up to get the ball in the net, it was close but was rightfully ruled offside.
With time running out it was heart in mouth time for everyone in blue, the ball found it's way to striker Lovell in the Rangers 6 yard box and his rather tame shot was deflected and looked like it was trickling towards the net, the keeper was beat but it hit the post and was knocked to safety, it truly was squeeky bum time for the Gers.
The attacks continued but it wasn't to be, the final whistle was blown and Novo's fantastic strike was enough to ensure that Walter Smith's Rangers had retained their Scottish Cup just as they did in his first stint in charge, it was the 18th double in Rangers history, it was trophy number 111 for the Ibrox club.
Madjid Bougherra was awarded Man of the Match for a performance in which he excelled, he recognised the weakness of the midfield and aswell as being a rock at the back took it upon himself to mount several attacks, he done the job of 3 players and done every one of them with the class and style that he has shown all season.
Falkirk manager John Hughes can feel proud of each and every player on that Hampden park and should be lauded for building an exciting team.
The crowd showed their appreciation for Davie Weir as he lifted the famous trophy aloft, they showed their support of Barry Ferguson's years of service and they showed their love of top scorer Boyd and match winner Novo but the roar that usually reverberates around Ibrox was moved to the national stadium and was kept for a triumphant Walter Smith, brought back to steady a sinking ship he has led the team to 5 cup finals and he has brought the league title back to it's rightful home in the Ibrox trophy room.
It was far from a classic performance but when they tied the ribbons to the oldest trophy in the world, they were the red, white and the glorious royal blue of the Famous Glasgow Rangers.
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