Nacho goal so special - McCoist

31 May 2009 09:50
The Hampden half-time substitute lobbed Dani Mallo less than 30 seconds after the restart as Rangers secured the double with a 1-0 Scottish Cup final triumph on Saturday. Novo, who scored the winner when Rangers beat Hibernian to clinch the 2005 league title, has struggled to earn a starting place but he continues to pop up with crucial goals. "Nacho is an incredible wee guy," said assistant boss McCoist, who led Rangers throughout their cup campaign. "He's got a wonderful rapport with the fans and his team-mates. He deserves his success because he works so hard every day in training. "The place lights up when the wee man walks in, whether it's a football park or a room. "I know where he's coming from; it's not easy when you're coming off the bench. But I'm doubly delighted for him because he deserves it. "Looking at the context of the game and the quality of the goal, it will take some beating. "It's certainly one of the great goals to win any cup final in any country." Novo replaced Kris Boyd as Rangers matched Falkirk's 4-5-1 formation after being outplayed in the first half. And McCoist admitted he could not have envisaged a pragmatic substitution having such a dramatic effect. "We made a change because we felt we were losing out in midfield," McCoist said. "To be fair to Barry (Ferguson) and Lee (McCulloch), they were outnumbered. "We felt making the change we could put more pressure on their back four with Kenny (Miller) wide on the right and Nacho on the left. "But it was beyond anybody's wildest dreams for a change like that to so quickly be beneficial. Because it was a goal worthy of winning any game of football." McCoist has enjoyed one of the greatest weeks in his career after Rangers stopped Celtic winning their fourth successive title. "It just feels magic," the former Ibrox striker said. "I thought last week was one of the best days of my football life but watching the players with the cup was fantastic. "Falkirk deserve an awful amount of praise because they were terrific. It didn't surprise me; I said beforehand they can pass the ball as well as anyone in the league and they did that today. In the first half, they made it very, very difficult." Meanwhile, McCoist offered hope to Ferguson that he may be at the club next season. After Pedro Mendes and Maurice Edu failed fitness tests, the 31-year-old made his first start for two months, since being suspended by the club following his part in the 'Boozegate' affair. "He's got another year of his contract to go," McCoist said. "I'm hopeful that Barry will be here next year lifting the cup."

Source: Team_Talk