Rangers League Cup Championi

[Guinness]

GERS THRASH WELL TO CLAIM CUP

Rangers have claimed the first domestic trophy of the Scottish season with a 5-1 thrashing of Motherwell in the CIS Insurance Cup final.
A headed brace from Sotirios Kyrgiakos, along with single strikes from Maurice Ross, Fernando Ricksen and Nacho Novo secured the Scottish League Cup for Alex McLeish's side.

David Partridge's fine first half header for Terry Butcher's side proved not enough for The Well, as they were overrun by a far superior side on Sunday.

It was an emotional day at Hampden Park for both clubs, as the final paid tribute to former Rangers and Motherwell star Davie Cooper, who died of a brain haemorrhage 10 years ago this coming week.

The opening stages of the contest proved very entertaining, as three goals were scored in the quarter of an hour.

In fact, Rangers took a two-goal lead inside the first ten minutes, with Ross breaking the deadlock on five minutes with a fine right foot lob over Motherwell's onrushing goalkeeping Gordon Marshall after Thomas Buffel found the Scotland international in the opponents' box.

McLeish's side then doubled their lead four minutes later, as man-of-the-match Barry Ferguson's fine cross from the right was inadvertently flicked on by Motherwell's Phil O'Donnell into the path of Kyrgiakos and the big Greek headed home unmarked at the far post.

The Old Firm side looked rampant at this stage and Marshall had to be on his toes to stop Dado Prso's fierce right foot strike from the edge of the box moments later.

However, just as it seemed that Rangers were cruising to another domestic trophy success, Butcher's side pulled themselves back into the match when Steven Hammell's left foot free kick from the right found Partridge in the box to head home for 2-1 on 13 minutes.

The Well then went looking for an equaliser and created two decent half-chances, with Scott McDonald striking a left foot shot wide of goal while Stephen Craigan just missed connecting with Hammell's free kick at the far post moments later.

The match remained well-poised until just after the half hour mark, as The Gers restored their two-goal lead when captain Ricksen sublimely curled a right footed free kick into the bottom corner of Marshall's goal to make it 3-1.

The half ended with Rangers unlucky not to score a fourth goal, as Gregory Vignal's left foot free kick from the right found the head of Kyrgiakos at the far post, but his header failed to reach the unmarked Novo in front of an open net.

Motherwell would have wanted to start the second half in positive fashion, but Rangers secured the cup with a fourth goal three minutes after the restart.

Vignal's fine ball forward from the left found Novo onside and the Spaniard did well to lob his left-footed shot over the onrushing Marshall near the edge of Motherwell's box to make it 4-1.

From that point on, Rangers looked in complete control and continued to threaten Motherwell's goal through efforts from Ricksen, Ferguson and Novo.

The match was summed up when Rangers scored a fifth goal in the dying stages, as Ricksen's outswinging corner from the right found the unmarked Kyrgiakos, as he out-jumped everyone to head home with ease for 5-1.

The win is sure to spur Rangers on to re-claiming the Scottish Premier League title from arch-rivals Celtic while Motherwell will look to push into the top half of the SPL table following the cup defeat.

First silverware of the season... Bring on the double!!!
Championi, championi are we, are we, are we!!!

[Captain Shamrock]

Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier League Table
P GD PTS
1 Celtic 30 46 77
2 Rangers 30 49 75
3 Hibernian 30 8 50
4 Aberdeen 30 7 49
5 Hearts 30 6 45
6 Motherwell 29 0 39
7 Kilmarnock 30 -12 35
8 Inverness CT 29 -5 33
9 Dunfermline 30 -24 26
10 Dundee 30 -28 25
11 Livingston 30 -27 23
12 Dundee Utd 30 -20 22

[Captain Shamrock]

Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier League Table
P GD PTS
1 Celtic 30 46 77
2 Rangers 30 49 75
3 Hibernian 30 8 50
4 Aberdeen 30 7 49
5 Hearts 30 6 45
6 Motherwell 29 0 39
7 Kilmarnock 30 -12 35
8 Inverness CT 29 -5 33
9 Dunfermline 30 -24 26
10 Dundee 30 -28 25
11 Livingston 30 -27 23
12 Dundee Utd 30 -20 22

[johnnybluenose]

With an Old Firm game to follow at Ibrox! Youse are done.

[Captain Shamrock]

I have to admit that Celtic will probably have the more difficult route, having to travel to the HunDome and the mini-Hun Dome, and Pittodrie. It doesn't matter though as long as Bellamy stays healthy and continues to get better each game. What an option.

[johnnybluenose]

Bellend has yet to snap, give him time... A nice rash challenge and he will get a 3 match ban for someting stupid... Wait and see...

[Captain Shamrock]

If he does, I'm sure it will conveniently be right before the game at Shitbrox.


That's almost a gimme......