Game Summary - Rangers Vs St Mirren - Co-operative Insurance Cup Final (21.03.10).flv

KENNY MILLER insists he always believed Rangers could beat St Mirren to the League Cup - even when they were reduced to nine men.

The Light Blues were poor at Hampden in today's final and their cause wasn't helped when both Kevin Thomson and Danny Wilson were sent off in the second half.

But they somehow dug deep to find a winner, scored by Miller with a well-placed header after Steven Naismith's right-wing cross.

The 84th-minute strike provided a dramatic end to a tense afternoon as the Ibrox outfit hung on to claim their fifth major trophy since Walter Smith returned to the club.

Miller said: "There's always a chance of winning when you are level. Whether you are down to eight men, nine or whatever, there's always that prospect.

"We always say that teams' best chances against us are probably from set plays but that was the case for us when we were down to nine men.

"We hoped to maybe get a corner or a free kick, when we could pile players into their box, and maybe get on the end of it.

"With the way we played, they dominated and they did that again when we went down to 10 men.

"They were pressing and pressing and trying to get a goal and in a way, that probably worked to our advantage.

JUBILANT Walter Smith had thought he had seen just about everything in football in over 40 years at the top level but today's astonishing League Cup success might just top them all.

Rangers had two men sent off - Kevin Thomson and Danny Wilson - yet they somehow managed to conjure up a winning goal through Kenny Miller to lift the trophy for the 26th time.

It was utterly astonishing as resilient Rangers somehow prevailed in the most testing of circumstances and that was not lost on the manager.

He punched the air and celebrated with the fans at the end as if it was the first trophy he has ever won.

And of course the ramifications are massive as it means Rangers are still on course for a clean sweep of the honours.

Smith said: "We are delighted especially under the circumstances as it looked extremely unlikely that we would win.

"When you have beenin the game a long time you think you have encountered most things but I have never been in a final when you go down to nine men and managed to come out winning.

"it's a fantastic achievement.

"As I said to the boys, it doesn't matter how many times you win trophies you can never win enough of them and that's where I'm from.

"The unlikely circumstances puts this up with the best of them. I was delighted with each of the previous ones I was involved in so I'm equally delighted to be involved in this one given the circumstances."

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[DJCraigC]

9 men we only need 9 men......

so much for "cellics" conspiracy theory.

Glasgow Rangers champions

[IainB1511]

@dislecksick and realistically how many teams compete in Ingerland? 4!!!! Spain 2!!! Germany 3 ???? Still if we are such a joke we still made you watch.....

[MegaZombiekiller90]

9 men had done a good job

[lewis300895]

Rangers in a minute!

[aaitken96]

close game could of went either way

[gazwel83]

@CFCIRISHNOTSCOTTISH Polis not kicked your door in yet? Don't worry, it will happen.

[stmirren37]

gutted for davie barron that his shot just hit the bar :(

[Pysio674]

What name this music?

[TOiTEEM1]

@dislecksick actaully dundee utd won the scottish cup so rangers and celtic dont win EVERY cup in scottish football :P