Ally McCoist hailed Rangers' team spirit after they beat Falkirk to seal his first double as a coach.
Gers No.2 delighted to clinch Scottish double
Assistant boss Ally McCoist hailed Rangers' team spirit after they beat Falkirk to seal his first double as a coach.
The former Gers striker won eight Scottish league titles and one double as a player, and the 47-year-old was celebrating another double after a 1-0 win in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden.
Walter Smith's men clinched the SPL crown last week and Nacho Novo's superb strike within 30 seconds of his introduction as a half-time substitute ensured they followed it up with their 33rd Cup success.
"It feels magic," McCoist told
Sky Sports. "That's the only word I can use to describe it.
"We made a poor start and to see the lads come through this is great.
Special
"There were special scenes at Tannadice last week and, indeed, back at Ibrox, but for me the memory of the whole season was seeing the players celebrate.
"I just thought there was a real bond and togetherness there, it carried them through today and I'm just thrilled for them."
Novo was thrown on for the second half in place of top scorer Kris Boyd, who along with his team-mates struggled in sweltering heat during the opening period.
McCoist has been handed the coaching reins by Smith for most of their Cup campaign but insists the substitution wasn't just down to him.
Injection of pace
"It was a joint decision," he said. "We just felt that Nacho's pace on the left and Kenny Miller's pace on the right might cause them one or two problems.
"Boydy's been great for us the last few weeks but we just felt a change and putting someone a bit quicker up front would work for us and thankfully it did.
"We certainly played a lot better second half, but I thought Falkirk played well too.
"I said beforehand they are one of the best passing teams in the league - if not the best - and for long periods of the game they certainly looked it, and made it really difficult for us," McCoist added.
Steel
"But I'm just so pleased for our players. They've got a bit of belief and a bit of steel, and we've somebody like that wee man who can just score.
"What a goal that is to win a Cup final, what a strike."
Novo ran on to a left-wing throw-in by Sasa Papac to smash a right-footed volley over Dani Mallo from 25 yards but the match-winner played down his wonder goal.
"It was more about the performance of the team," he said. "We had to really work hard.
"I thought everybody was a bit tired in the first half but we kept going, against a good side like Falkirk, who I thought played some good football as well.
"But at the end of the day the Cup's coming with us and that's the main thing."
Yet despite helping Gers claim a fourth trophy in 14 months, McCoist is in no hurry to replace Smith in the top job.
"There's plenty of time for that, I think the number one's doing fine just now," he joked.
