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Featured Sport News

Gers on for a double

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 29/05/2009

There's no doubt who most people with an interest in football betting will be backing to win the Scottish Cup final when SPL champions Rangers face Falkirk at Hampden Park.

The Gers go into the game on the crest of a wave after edging out deadly rivals Celtic for the league title, although their opponents also had reason to celebrate as they escaped relegation on the final day of the season.

Rangers had been under pressure for much of the campaign, but a late slip by the Bhoys allowed Walter Smith's side to deny Celtic a fourth straight title and set up the prospect of a domestic double.

However, Smith is cautious about expecting an easy ride against the Bairns, saying: "I don't think there will be any problem with refocusing.

"The cup final is one you can always place in the background until the league is finished, but you always want to finish the season on a high."

Smith is also buoyed by a short injury list, although defender Kirk Broadfoot definitely misses out due to a foot injury which required surgery.

The Gers also have the most deadly marksman in the Scottish football among their ranks, with Kris Boyd having already netted 31 goals in all competitions this season, including four against the Bairns.

His side have beaten SPL opposition in the last two rounds of the competition, seeing off St Mirren and Hamilton Academical after defeating Forfar Athletic and St Johnstone in earlier rounds.

The man charged with masterminding a Hampden super-shock is John Hughes, a rugged defender during his playing days, a career which included a spell with Celtic and two stints as a player with his current club.

His side spent the whole league season facing an unexpected battle to secure their top-flight future, with only a 1-0 win at Inverness Caley Thistle on the final day of the campaign ensuring safety.

While the Gers had Boyd banging in the goals, Falkirk struggled to find a proven goalscorer, with Steve Lovell their leading league marksman with a mere eight strikes.

Falkirk started their Hampden march with a 4-2 home win over Queen of the South, before recording 1-0 victories at Hearts and then Inverness.

In the semi-finals the Bairns saw off Dunfermline Athletic 2-0, with Tam Scobbie and Scott Arfield the goalscorers.

The omens for Falkirk do not look good when all is considered, but one final stat seems to point even more firmly towards a 33rd Scottish Cup success for the Ibrox club.

These two sides met in a Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden earlier this season, with Rangers comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to a Nacho Novo double and a late clincher from the prolific Boyd.

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