Brave Bairns paid the price for not making pressure count

Published on Monday 1 June 2009 09:57

THE domestic season finally came to a close on Saturday with Rangers picking up their second piece of silverware, adding the Scottish Cup to the SPL title they secured at Tannadice the previous weekend.

In truth, it was not a great final – the searing heat pretty much guaranteed the game would be played at a sedate pace – but credit must go to Falkirk for running the Champions close.

With a bit more luck in front of goal it could have been a different story altogether and, in the end, only a wonder strike from substitute Nacho Novo was enough to separate the two teams.

Falkirk, 12-1 underdogs on the day, had the lion's share of possession, but they could not make it work in their favour and, invariably, when you play either side of the Old Firm it's the same old story that, if you don't take your chances when on top, it'll come back to bite you at some stage.

Sure enough, less than a minute after coming on as a half-time replacement for Kris Boyd, Novo popped up with a phenomenal hit from fully 30 yards and that proved to be enough. So Rangers secured the double and, despite taking flak from all angles this season, it was Walter Smith who had the last laugh.

Perhaps the so-called experts who chose Gordon Strachan or Csaba Laszlo as their manager of the year would like to have a re-vote?

No more football for several months now and so, with that in mind, I wish you all a very enjoyable summer.