Rangers striker Kenny Miller has admitted that his side were fortunate to emerge victorious from Saturday’s Scottish Cup final clash with Falkirk.
A looping 30-yard stunner from Nacho Novo, his first touch of the ball after coming on as a half-time substitute, proved enough to separate the sides in a game that was dominated by The Bairns for long periods of time.
And having had little success in his attacking role as his team-mates in defence took centre stage in the scorching heat of Hampden, the former Derby ace was relieved to hold on to the lead and clinch a league and cup Double.
“Falkirk kept the ball from us for long periods of time and I think we were a bit fortunate to get the goal,” the 29-year-old conceded. “It was a wonder goal from Nacho Novo with his first touch of the ball, and I think it was going to take something like that for us to win that game. Fortunately enough it went that way.
“We hadn’t had too many chances in the game, but Nacho took it with his first touch and it absolutely flew in. In the end we were fortunate to hold on.
“Falkirk came out and played in a way that really frustrated us. They kept the ball really well and worked hard to create things.
“You could see at the end that they looked to have a lot of energy, and they kept the ball. But we got there in the end, and the main thing in these kind of games is the result and not the performance.”
The star was the subject of criticism in the immediate aftermath of his return to the Ibrox club, with elements of the support unwilling to greet him with open arms after a short and ill-fated stint at bitter rivals Celtic.
But having watched Miller form a formidable partnership with hitman Kris Boyd and playing a pivotal role in the title success of Walter Smith’s men, most of those who were so vocal when he arrived last summer have finally started to warm to him.
He added: “It means a lot to hear the fans chanting my name. Coming back to a club where I’ve played before was always going to be hard for me, but the big success for me was the team getting the league back and winning the Scottish Cup.”