Source: Team_Talk
Hughes: Bairns players all heroes
The Bairns were arguably the better passing side at Hampden but lost the match and the cup to a stunning long-range goal from Nacho Novo, seconds after his introduction as a half-time substitute.
"I thought they were all heroes," Hughes said. "I'm so proud of them, even when they went a goal behind they kept going and digging in.
"We played football the way it should be played. Sometimes you can take defeat a little bit easier when you see it done like that. And it was a wonder goal.
"I saw wee Nacho coming on at half-time and I thought 'aw, no, here we go' because he has punished us at times and he did it again.
"To lose a goal in the first minute of the second half was really disappointing, but all credit to Rangers. They are so resolute, that's why they are out there celebrating a double."
Falkirk rallied after strike trio Michael Higdon, Carl Finnigan and Mark Stewart came on in the 74th minute, and although Hughes had been trying to get them on for almost five minutes, he did not feel the change was too late.
"I think if I had started with them the performance in the first half wouldn't have been like that," he said.
"In the last 15 minutes it was more back-to-front, if we had got anything it would have been a bit fortunate. But it certainly rattled them."
Hughes led out his team with John Gowans, the father of late youth player Craig, who was electrocuted aged 17 in a training-ground accident in 2005.
"He was down in the dressing room and he came back at half-time to listen in," an emotional Hughes said.
"It was for the right reasons - for Craig's memory.
"He would have been out there with us. John's got his medal and we'll never forget him."
The Bairns boss has been linked with the vacant managerial positions at Hibernian and Aberdeen but he is already looking ahead to next season at Falkirk.
"I'll be at my work on Monday morning planning for next season," he said.
"All credit to the boys, about seven of them on the pitch don't
know their futures.
"Hopefully I can sit down with the board and get the boys tied up to take the club to the next level."
