SCOTTISH CUP FINAL: Rangers 1 Falkirk

RANGERS assistant manager Ally McCoist hailed Nacho Novo’s 35-yard volley as one of the all-time great cup final goals after the Spaniard sunk Falkirk at Hampden.

The half-time substitute lobbed Dani Mallo less than 30 seconds after the restart as Rangers secured the double with a 1-0 Homecoming Scottish Cup final triumph.

Novo, who scored the winner when Rangers beat Hibernian to clinch the 2005 league title, has struggled to earn a starting place but he continues to pop up with crucial goals.

“Nacho is an incredible wee guy,” said McCoist, who led Rangers throughout their cup campaign.

“He’s got a wonderful rapport with the fans and his teammates.

He deserves his success because he works so hard every day in training.

“The place lights up when the wee man walks in, whether it’s a football park or a room.

“I know where he’s coming from; it’s not easy when you’re coming off the bench. But I’m doubly delighted for him because he deserves it.

“Looking at the context of the game and the quality of the goal, it will take some beating.

“It’s certainly one of the great goals to win any cup final in any country.”

Novo replaced Kris Boyd as Rangers matched Falkirk’s 4-5- 1 formation after being outplayed in the first half.

And McCoist admitted he could not have envisaged a pragmatic substitution having such a dramatic effect.

“We made a change because we felt we were losing out in midfield,” McCoist said.

“To be fair to Barry (Ferguson) and Lee (McCulloch), they were outnumbered.

“We felt making the change we could put more pressure on their back four with Kenny (Miller) wide on the right and Nacho on the left.

“But it was beyond anybody’s dreams for a change like that to so quickly be beneficial. Because it was a goal worthy of winning any game of football.”

McCoist has enjoyed one of the greatest weeks in his career after Rangers stopped Celtic winning their fourth successive title.

“It just feels magic,” the former Ibrox striker said.

“I thought last week was one of the best days of my football life but watching the players with the cup was fantastic.”