Hughes hails 'motivating' win

Goals from Thomas Scobbie and Scott Arfield secured a 2-0 win over Dunfermline to book a meeting with Rangers in the final on May 30.The victory means Falkirk have also secured European football for the first time in the club's history.However, testing times lie ahead for a club battling for survival in the top flight, with the added pressure of some fans calling for the manager to be sacked."Hopefully this will give us the springboard," Hughes told BBC Scotland."It provides real motivation to be fighting for a place in the starting 11 come cup final day."As for the supporters here, that was real Falkirk supporterwho were right behind the team."Falkirk's joy was tempered by the news that Arnau Riera will miss the final after being booked for diving.Asked whether he thought the midfielder took a dive, Hughes admitted: "Possibly he did."It's very disappointing. He's a foreigner and he's a a real hard worker and I don't think he understands to tell you the truth."I don't think he knows the script with the two bookings."Fans group the Bairns' Trust wrote to chairman Campbell Christie recently demanding Hughes be sacked."It's a minority," assistant boss Brian Rice told BBC Scotland."The big man is different class, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he is Falkirk 24/7."We both are and I think everybody knows that. Over the last six years, we have worked our tails off."We just want to achieve things with Falkirk. For people to slate John Hughes after what he has done for Falkirk is incredible."Rice warned Rangers that Falkirk will be determined to make the most of their return to Hampden next month."We want to stay up first and foremost," he said."But we are in a final and we don't want to just make the numbers up."

Source: Team_Talk