Rangers v Hibernian Sportscene

Hello, good evening and welcome to Sportscene.

COMMENTATOR: Oh, it's unbelievable! Unbelievable!

It's a spectacular opening goal in the derby.

This is history! Highland history!

There's nothing quite like the magic of Scottish Cup final day. For the

first time ever, two teams from outside the top league are competing

for the big prize. It is the 13th time in two seasons Rangers and Hibs

have gone head-to-head. They know each other only too well.

Left-footed from Rogic... Skies it!

And Rangers are through to the Scottish Cup final!

Alan Stubbs has guided Hibernian into the Scottish Cup final.

It'll be an all-Championship Scottish Cup final

# Baby, if you could, would you go back to the start?

It's more Hampden heartache for Hibernian.

# Take any fresh steps or watch it all fall apart again?

# Play another song here, then you can leave

# With your delicate wings, I used to weave

# It could have been a wonderful year

# Instead we might not make it to the end

# You gave me magical, I gave you wonderful

# Cut that invisible cord or I'll starve you

# Let's make immeasurable moves to the left

Rangers have pulled off the seemingly unthinkable.

# Baby if you could would you go back to the start? #

Will it be a trophy treble for Rangers? The Championship and the

Challenge Cup are already theirs. It would add up to a horror hat-trick

for Hibs, who have already missed out on promotion, the pain is still

raw, and they lost at Hampden in the League Cup final. But maybe the

black cloud over Leith will have a silver lining and they can get their

hands on the elusive Scottish Cup after a wait of 114 years. The

winners will play in Europe, at least Alan Stubbs's team is matched

sharp. Rangers have not played a competitive game in three weeks.

Does any of that matter on cup final day? We are about to find out.

Taking centre stage, the world's oldest national football trophy.

This is the 131st year it has been played for, and for a fifth

successive season, whatever happens a different name will be etched into

the special silverware. The 2016 Scottish Cup final is on the BBC and

this is our studio line-up. # Light the fuse,

gonna watch it blow Ronald de Boer, Pat Nevin and

Michael Stewart. That took a bit of digging out, Michael. Is this the

day for Hibs, is it the year for their Scottish Cup? We have a great

chance. Plenty of games against Rangers to size them up and know

what they are about. I had a weird feeling it would be their year, but

having lost the semifinal in the play-offs, I am not sure now.

Rangers are slight favourites but Hibs have a chance. Ronald, some

happy memories of this shiny thing. Beating Celtic was special, 3-2.

Winning the trophy is always great. Had you followed the Rangers journey

back to the big-league? Of course. It's massive. I was therefore a

great four years, despite injury problems. I had a great time.

Rangers, still one of the biggest clubs in Europe. It is a shame that

a club like that went so down, but it's great for Scottish football

take their suffering to a new level? take their suffering to a new level?

-- can the. They might have to, but the way it has happened has been

incredible. Hibs have had a great season, Rangers were slightly

better, winning the league. The pain of the late goals, just getting so

close... Much more painful that way. The one thing about this

competition, the semifinals were so exciting, fabulous games. This

should be the same. Really exciting game. I think we have got two teams

that want to play attacking football. Everything is in place.

Could Hibs's desire be the thing? Rangers have achieved their

objective of getting to the Premiership. Hibs desperately need

something from the season. Sometimes that desperation can play against

you, if you want it too much. You need to focus on the game and not

get caught up in everything surrounding it. Yes, both teams'

main objective was to get promoted and Rangers have done that. In a cup

final you have to put that one side and focus on the game. I don't think

it is a case of Hibs having more. Rangers are desperate to lift the

trophy as well. Considering where Rangers have come from, it would be

a really special season if it was the title, promotion, the Scottish

Cup and Europe. Of course. They know that, they want to do it for the

fans. It is great for next year. You are going full force into next

season, so it would be perfect. The same of course, Hibs have a great

team. It's going to be very even. Two hours of build-up, this is a

sample of what is on the way. The football fairy tale that was

East Kilbride. Just so delighted to

be in the next round with Celtic. What a feeling.

It really feels so good to say that. The Rangers climb

back to the big-time. 25 years on, the memories

of the family final. The main thing was that,

in the final, if you lost, it was your brother that was going

to win the cup. Who was the role model

for the Hibs goalkeeper? Well, because of yourself,

your penalty save in 1990. I remember watching it

in my sitting room. What's it really like to play

in this football showpiece? Thinking back, you didn't even

realise until after Playing for Hibs is

a boyhood dream come true. A club I've supported all my life.

It was a real easy choice. Walked through the doors,

signed on the dotted line and got my number,

24, and that was me. Being Jason Cummings,

by two who should know. He always seems to pop up and get

the goals in the box. We look at the making

of Mark Warburton. He's remembered fondly,

but if you know Mark, he's going to be remember

fondly wherever he goes. He's very good with people,

having the ability to make And will the return of

Anthony Stokes have a happy ending? I've enjoyed my time here, that's

one of the reasons I came back - because I enjoyed the first

spell I had for a season here. You will get a glimpse of the 1991

version of Craig Paterson when we venture down the Motherwell memory

lane, a court of a century on from the finest vinyl, the 2016 model is

our match summariser. Craig and his Motherwell team-mates of the day

have celebrated that quite a lot. Hopefully we will get something

similar this afternoon. Rangers and Hibs, they have become familiar foes

over the last couple of seasons. 12 times they have met, six wins

apiece. On paper, not much between them. Very little between them, both

more than capable of winning. Hibs dominated the league matches,

Rangers came out on top in the knockout situations. Will it make a

difference? Not a bit, it is about bringing your A game to Hampden

Park. They have to bounce back, Hibs. Both sides know a place in

Europe is up for grabs, it is a big game. Rangers have not played for a

few weeks, the Championship season ended at the start of the month. We

talked about this last year with Falkirk, before they played

Inverness. Will it come into play, the fact they had been idle for so

long? They will say they are fresher, if it goes to extra time

they might have better legs. The adrenaline flowing through the

players will take care of any problems in terms of fitness. It is

down to who plays. They want to get the ball down and play. The midfield

is the key, if you dominate there, you will win the cup. We were at

Falkirk a week yesterday when Hibs' bid for promotion was ended. They

lost the League Cup final here a couple of months ago. A bit of a

downer. Talking about Rangers being idle, is the fact that Hibs have had

such poor results going to come into play? They will be extra keen to get

a result, having lost a cup final and the play-offs, you don't want a

third disappointment. Hibs will be fired up, and they will have to be,

because Rangers have won the Championship and the cup. If Hibs

can win today, these players will go down as legends at Easter Road.

Expecting any surprises in the starting line-up? Alan Stubbs likes

to play three centre-backs against Rangers and has had good results. It

means Stevenson and Gray can get forward and confront Wallace and

Tavernier. I know how Rangers are going to line-up. The sun has come

out. Some competition this season as usual. I wonder if there will be

more magic moments this afternoon. # Roll up, roll up, roll up

for satisfaction # Everybody wants,

everyboy needs # So get up, get up, get up

to get some action # It's the ticket

you've been waiting for # Roll up, roll up, roll up

for satisfaction # Everybody wants,

everyboy needs # So get up, get up, get up

to get some action # It's the ticket

you've been waiting for # Cos everybody wants,

everybody wants When you think of the magic of the

Scottish Cup this season, two words pretty quickly come to mind, East

and Kilbride. Their meeting with Celtic was a moment for all cup

romantics to savour. Kenny was with them every step of the way. He

organised a little reunion. Has there ever been such

a lopsided match-up? When you entered the Scottish Cup,

was there anything right at the beginning where you thought,

we're going to have We were nearly going

out, weren't we? We were nearly going out

when we played Forres Mechanics. Khutsishvili!

The Highlanders are in front. This tie will be decided

in the Highlands. I actually owed a wee bit

to the gaffer, to be honest. It is a second

for Craig Hastings! We were writ off before the game

even started. And then I think that's when our

name got out a wee bit. How does it feel

to be in the third round now? If we get through, you never know,

we might get Celtic or Rangers. We had a point to prove and it

showed, because that was our best The way we played,

we were keeping the ball for fun. I think Stenhousemuir were

absolutely stunned. The little team from the lower

leagues are two goals up! Jason Scotland gives his

side a lifeline. And they get the equaliser,

and then the final whistle went. We went into the dressing room

and there was utter silence, We'll left our heads and get

prepared again on Monday You could really say

it's just half-time. And it is the perfect

start for Kilby! That will settle it.

This cup run is not stopping here. That's probably the best draw

we could've actually got. First game got called off,

there was snow up at K-Park. Which meant that the draw came out

for the fifth round before you'd finished against Lothian

Thistle Hutchison Vale. I was watching it with my mum. My

mum predicted it would be Celtic. Right enough, Celtic came out and

she just ran about the living room, screaming, and then my phone was

just red hot. We had this big hurdle in front

of us, in Lothian Thistle. A couple of attacks, one especially

they should have scored. That settled us down.

That settled the boys down. I just stayed on the keeper

every corner and set piece. Luckily for me, he dropped one.

It just landed right beside me. Couldn't believe my luck!

Just a wee toe-poke in. Just so delighted to

be in the next round with Celtic. What a feeling.

It really feels so good to say that. I don't care who was in that green

and white jersey next door. Knock at the door, and the boy hands

in the team line-up. And I threw it onto the table.

Not interested. And I'm looking right

into their eyes. The sweat's going down

my legs when I looked! Celtic's playing

their strongest team. A chilly afternoon here

in Airdrie for what is I'm out in the technical area,

and I remember shouting, And we're knocking the ball,

and making Celtic... Small moments of chasing.

I was swelling with pride. Oh, it hasn't been

cleared off the line! It's forced home!

Kazim-Richards claims. It's a dream come true for me

to play against my boyhood heroes. Fingers crossed, if I'm here next

season, we can do it again. Barry Russell has not been parted

from that Celtic jersey since then! Back here at Hampden Park, the

playing surface could not be looking in much better shape. The final

preparations have been made. The surface was not good when Rangers

won the challenge cup here, it has been relayed since. I was down on

the pitch at the start, it looks in great shape, that will not be an

excuse. Rangers have already hit the target with their main objective for

the season achieved, a third promotion in four Seasons has them

back in the top tier. The journey is complete.

Rangers, one of the giants of world football, have been consigned

to life among the minnows of the Scottish game.

I was away on holiday and I still couldn't believe it.

At first, it was a wee bit of a shock, to be honest.

The Scottish Football League's only acceptable position will be to place

The last five pages of the paper was all about Rangers and how things

Nothing seemed to be beyond the realms of possibility.

From the outset, we made it clear we would play

The majority of the people, certainly the supporters, went,

right, that's our medicine, we have to take it.

We've been put down there, we have to get on with it.

It felt quite historic, Rangers arriving in these places.

It was a big deal for these towns to host Rangers.

Even though playing at a lesser level, and obviously not

against the top players, you are still playing

As a player, that's what you want as well.

It did become a recurring theme that they stumbled a few times.

They did lose at Stirling Albion when Stirling were bottom

of the league, they beat Rangers 1-0.

The Stirling Albion manager was away, he took the day

A season of unfamiliar opponents, but a familiar result.

Ultimately, we've still won the league.

The feeling that they had kind of clicked,

The football wasn't always particularly pretty.

They went through the whole league season unbeaten.

Some of these lower division pitches aren't the best,

So at times it wasn't pretty football at all.

We knew that and I'm sure everyone watching knew that as well.

Just getting through the games, game management almost.

That first Championship season for Rangers, they were totally

Rangers were strong favourites to win the division and keep

this kind of momentum of annual league wins.

Hearts set a ferocious pace at the start of the season.

Ousmane Sow! Sensational finish at Ibrox.

It was a difficult season for everybody.

Hearts were by far the best team in the Championship, ran away

I think you could say they surprised everybody, the way

I don't know how many points they had.

Ally McCoist has left his position as Rangers manager and the club say

When you see the way the manager was towards the end,

As a football manager, you want to concentrate on

A lot of the time at the end, a lot of attention was

It was all about how he dealt with everything off the field.

When I actually went in, in my 35 years of being involved

in football, the morale and the confidence was the lowest

From the top of the club, there was no leadership.

There was nobody there to get a grip of the club.

It was like a rudderless ship, if you like.

I don't think we were equipped as a team to go and face Celtic

Personally, and I'm sure a few of the other boys would say,

we were out of luck that day and Celtic ran out

We came up short against Motherwell in the play-offs.

No doubt about it, over the two legs, Motherwell were by far

Ainsworth scores the goal that secures safety for Motherwell!

In a 15-minute spell, all the work of a full season that

had been done to try and get into the top league at the first

time of asking, was unravelled in a three-goal spell.

I did say at the time it was a great time to come into Rangers.

It was almost a blank canvas to bring your own players in.

Rangers have been really impressive under Warburton this season.

He has signed well, he's signed players we weren't really aware of.

It's going to be left for Tavernier!

Mark Warburton has gelled the team together, built a team that

genuinely believe they can win any game of football.

So I think for the first time in years, there's a style of play,

the fans are sitting on the edge of their seats, saying,

And then of course the semifinal against Celtic.

Which so far has been the signature result and performance

Barrie McKay scores a wonder goal for Rangers in extra time!

Rangers played so comfortably and were good on the ball

and played out from the back, and kept the ball for long periods.

I don't think I've ever seen an Old Firm game where it's been

that one team's played far better than the other team.

I thought Rangers were fantastic, passed them off the pitch.

There's no doubt the quality of the football they played

It was a massive lift for the whole football club.

Throughout the season, they must be delighted.

The things that he's put in place, the players have taken on board.

And again, the backing and support, it's just been

Just over an hour and a half to kick-off, Alan Stubbs leads

Hibernian off the bus into Hampden Park. The League Cup final losers,

they missed out on promotion, can they win the Scottish Cup against

Rangers? We will find out in the coming moment. We have been watching

those recollections of Rangers fighting their way back through the

leagues, can you remember where you were when you heard the news four

years ago that such a big club, your former club, had been relegated to

the fourth level? I can't remember, but it was shocking. You know how

big Rangers is all over the world. Everywhere you come, Rangers fans.

We took about Rangers and Celtic, how big they are. You think if they

are in the Premiership, they would be the likes of Liverpool, that

status, and they go down to the third division. It was a major

shock. Could you explain it to yourself? It is due to management.

We have it now in our Dutch league, Twente has to go down. You want your

team to go well, but you go over your Budget. That is not the way to

do it. Mismanagement. Every big company, if you do that, you get

sacked, and the company is probably ruined. That is the same as a

football club. Was it still the right thing to do? The rules are the

rules. I can understand the argument against it, it felt very Draconian,

but the people have to work within what they see as the rules. Stuart

McCall says it better than any of us, it has happened, we need to get

on with it and stop it looked as if it would be a straight progression

all the way up. Looking back now, I hope eventually people look back at

those teams that got through those divisions and be very depressed. The

work that Ally McCoist and Lee McCulloch did. It is tough to get

all the way through and stick by the club. I applaud them. In the end,

they were going to get back, it took them a year longer, but they are now

getting back when he looked strong enough, and that is important. Until

this season, you would not say they have done it in style. That is a

fair assessment. You look at the transition from last season to this

season, it is huge. You can now see them settling into the top flight

and aching a good fist of it. Previously, there was a huge golf.

That is a huge credit to Mark Warburton and the players he has

brought in. You heard Michael Grant, who brought in a lot of guys we did

not know a great deal about, he has moulded them into a young, energetic

team. For the Rangers supporters, they can now look at that side and

get excited about it. It will be a good addition to the top flight next

year. There is Mark Warburton leading Rangers of their team bus.

Kenny Miller. We will get the team news at 2pm, that is as early as we

can get it. We will bring it to you at that point. Rangers against

Hibernian, the 2016 Scottish Cup final. We are also looking back, one

of the most fondly remembered finals is 25 years old, Tim -- Jim and

Tommy McClane led out Dundee United and Motherwell in an unforgettable

match, it still reduces grown men to tears.

There's Tom McLean and Jim McLean leading out their respective teams.

The build-up to the final was disappointing for the family,

because my father died the Tuesday prior to the game.

The second time that brothers have led out the Cup final teams.

The main thing was in the final, if you lost, it was your

The friendly family Cup final is under way.

My memories of the day would be getting up in the morning,

myself and Davie Cooper, looking to see who we would bet

on to score the first goal, I am sure he bet me!

I picked the ball up, given to Jim Griffin,

he went down the right-hand side, a great ball in.

The problem was Ally Maxwell had a bad injury.

Colliding with Maxwell, he is in trouble.

It was the act of his jump, the sharp end of his elbow

It was the way I landed, punctured the spleen.

I don't attach any blame to John Clark whatsoever.

I would have gone for the ball as well.

It is how we played the game back then.

He is going to continue, but I can't help imagining

they will want to test him again very quickly indeed.

I was really struggling with my movement.

Drilling the ball in low, testing Maxwell,

It hit the turf and skidded a little, rather than bounced.

I did not get down as quick as I thought I could have done.

I would have saved it if I was fully fit.

In the second half, another two goals, quite rapid.

We felt we were in control at 3-1, thinking about walking up to lift

the trophy, but Dundee United had other ideas.

At that point, I thought the pendulum had swung in their favour.

There's not one player that is a quitter.

We all want to win things, but initially we had to win it

by beating Dundee United, secondly we had to do it

with a goalkeeper injured, and then we lost a goal

30 minutes and perhaps the penalty shoot out.

Maxwell will be dreading that prospect.

Alan Main, a phenomenal goalkeeper, he fumbled the cross a bit.

It's a thing I have never said to the players, well done.

The final whistle has gone. Motherwell have won the Cup.

In the most dramatic fashion possible.

It was a great reflection on how my father wanted

us to play the game, the spirit it was played in.

It's the moment these Motherwell supporters have

It's so sad that they all can't be here to enjoy the moment.

Davie Cooper's contribution was second to none.

Philip was a young man at the height of his development.

Jamie was a ball-winning midfield player.

They'd be first four I think about, I don't think

They were an integral part of the team.

Every time I see that, gets me. It must get this man, Craig Paterson,

our co-commentator today, who played must get this man, Craig Paterson,

in that game, a Scottish Cup winner with Motherwell in 1991. It must be

so poignant when you get together. Great memories of a wonderful day, a

magical cup win for Motherwell, the supporters and the town. Sadness

when you think of the four lads who supporters and the town. Sadness

are not there to enjoy it with us. Just one of those days, the game had

everything. The brothers managing the teams, the tragedy of their

father passing away the week before. Seven goals, Max is the wounded

hero. Darren Jackson with a last-minute goal. It was Taylor made

for Kirky to come and score the winner. He scored against Falkirk.

He scored against Celtic. People thought Motherwell's name was on the

cup and Kirkwood scored the winner. A lot of people made money betting

on Stevie Kirk to score. Never been so happy to hear the final whistle.

Dundee United kept coming back. When the final whistle went, you thought,

thank goodness, no one can come and take it away. Still talking about it

25 years on, fabulous memory. Great memories of 1991. Hibs' Scottish Cup

semifinal against Dundee United, we did not know much about debutant

goalkeeper Conrad Logan. 16 months after his last senior game, he was

an instant hero with a series of superb saves, a couple in the

penalty shoot out. He is from Donegal, like another couple of top

keepers, Shay Given and our debutant interviewer Packie Bonner.

Conrad, for the fans who are watching today,

some of them don't know Conrad Logan.

I was born in Donegal, I came to England as a 15-year-old,

went to Leicester City, and I spent most of my career,

15 years, at Leicester City, until I came up here a couple

Your dad was one of my heroes, and he played for Finn Harps.

Yes, ever since I could walk, I was coming with him to games.

Why goalkeeping? Because of yourself.

It was you, your penalty save in 1990, I remember watching it

The big man from Donegal has set it up for the victory!

After that, I wanted to dive like you for

I was four years old, my mum was going mad,

When you had the homecoming and the books came out,

You said, "If you are half as good as your dad,

You were out for 15 months with injury.

Was there any doubt that you would not come back?

I was always quite positive that I would.

The surgeon was positive when he did the operation.

There is no quick fix for the tendon injury, you have

It was a year to the day when I had no pain in my leg,

There was light at the end of the tunnel, thinking

Did you ever think you would be the hero in a semifinal

I was just looking to play a game this season if I could,

it is always difficult to find a club with six or seven games left.

Half an hour before the warm-up, he named the team, that was it.

I was as relaxed as I had been in any game through my career.

When you have had an injury and you realise the things that go

on outside, maybe being a bit older and everything,

I just enjoyed it, I thought it was an unbelievable opportunity

They have asked the question of Conrad Logan now.

Early enough in the game to make a decent block.

Conrad Logan has just received a standing ovation

It gives the defenders and people I have not played

with more confidence, they can rely on you

The first Scottish Cup semifinal is going to a penalty shoot out.

When I came to the club, I did not realise how long

They said, "If you play in the semifinal, you could

The man of the moment does it again.

Jason Cummings has the chance to put Hibernian into the final.

The tweets and things I read in the paper about how much

Who were you on the phone to on the middle of the pitch?

I rang my father, I did not have reception.

He got the next phone call! I rang my father.

It had been a hard time, being injured, for everyone.

You need your family and friends to stick by you.

Do you have enough tickets coming over from Donegal?

We are all sorted and ready, they will have their seats,

Best of luck. Thank you.

That is one of those rare interviews where you say, who is the biggest

influence on your career? Well, you, actually! What a story, Conrad

Logan. Cliche alert, fairy tale. We all sat there watching it when we

came on, I hadn't seen it before... We were a bit apprehensive, let's be

absolutely honest, but he was absolutely stunning. And you watch

what happened after these saves. The first one he closes everything down.

When he finally became the hero and the penalties were saved, most of

the players ran to him, not the goal-scorer. The speed off the line

was fantastic. Technically superb. Adapting his feet to get to the

crosses. He didn't get up the quickest in the world after that

penalty, but he got up in time to save that one. The reaction was

quite stunning for the Hibs fans. It is like a fairy tale because he was

nowhere and suddenly a hero. It was a door to watch if you are football

fan, a great story. The Hibs fans must have been concerned, thinking

he had not played since 2014, and they ended up giving him a standing

ovation. When you see his size, you think he is not in the best shape.

But the save we just saw, I think also he has learned from other

goalies. He doesn't go too quick to the ground. He uses his arms, like a

handball goalie. That is why he saved them. They great story. For

somebody so long out. Respect for the man. Maybe more heroics to come

today from Conrad. Some of us and some of you know exactly what it is

like to play in a big game. Others can only guess what goes through a

player's mind during the big build-up. A fascinating insight from

the hero of 2002, Peter Lovenkrands looking back.

That day was special. It is not like any other game.

Coming into Hampden Park, the bus pulling in,

You are finally there, Tina Turner's Simply The Best

was playing, everybody was getting hyped up.

Walking to the dressing room, that is when I started to feel

I couldn't stop yawning, I was asked, "Are you tired?"

I said, "No, I am just nervous." I yawn when I am nervous.

He said, "Don't worry, we've got this."

You feel like time is going slow because you are excited.

You can hear it in the dressing room, the singing going on.

Half the stadium against you, half with you, it is special.

This Rangers team are lined up and ready to go.

You don't wait, because you don't care, you just focus

It's a big game, and you know that from the get go.

Just wanted to get into the game quickly and get settled.

Annoy the centre half as much as possible.

A couple of minutes in, I felt good, got some good chances,

you feel ready, you feel like you are in the game.

The ball fell for me, I took a touch.

Normally I would have played him in, because he would not be happy!

The ball goes in, there is an amazing sound that comes

Peter Lovenkrands gets a fifth Old Firm goal of the season.

Thinking back, you did not realise until after what you had

People running off the bench, the staff, everybody is so excited.

You are just trying to soak it all up.

Peter Lovenkrands with the Cup in his hand.

Two goals which he will long remember.

It is not until you come home, "What happened today?

You make history, an experience you will always remember.

Don't tell of the story you told us earlier about him, but he was a bit

quick. Unbelievable. You can have pace, but if you don't use it, some

boys always wanted at his feet, but he chooses it very well. We had

players behind him, we could send him away. He almost gave you an

apology for shooting! Should he have passed to you? No! I

won't comment on that! You decide in a split-second. Maybe he did not see

he is so focused. There is one thing on his mind. When some players have

something in their head, it stays in their Fed. He is a bit like that.

Don't give him too much information, their Fed. He is a bit like that.

just let him go. He can be incredible. The Scotland manager

just let him go. He can be here, a couple of big games coming

up, a couple of friendlies, against France and Italy will stop he will

take in this match this afternoon. This is the one I have been looking

forward to. It is a bit different. Rangers and Hibernian, we have not

had that for a while. The place is going to be full of colour. The

pitch is perfect. It is perfect for a cup final. I hope the rain will

stay off, the players can produce what they have done all season. They

have done tremendously well. Discovered stars on the way, Barrie

McKay, John McGinn, people like that. We hope they will enjoy

themselves. They can only be one winner, but it is a great occasion.

Everybody is looking at Hibernian and asking, can they recover from

not getting promotion? They have had disappointing matches en route. Have

they got more to prove? They have proved that they can play, they are

well coached, they have a determination, they have had a bit

of bad luck. If you look back at several occasions, you think... But

that will change. The only way it can change this by making it happen.

That is the only thing the players have got to decide. Hope that

Rangers don't play well and they can win it that way. Alan will say, we

have got to take this. You have media commitments, but you are

watching this as Scotland manager. What are you looking at's --? The

ability to pass the ball and keep the ball. The fitness level and

determination when things are not going well. To keep going.

You need the first touch and composure and decision-making, so I

will be looking for that. It would be remiss of me to not ask you about

Brendan Rodgers, a good appointment for Celtic? Terrific. He has got to

work with a great group of people behind the scenes, fantastic

support, and I am sure the players will be looking forward to it. He

has managed at a massive club like Liverpool, but is it different

managing... I have not managed Liverpool, so I can't tell you! But

is it different? Manchester United, Leeds United, it is different being

a player from a manager. Management is something else, it is a lonely

place. No matter where you are. But he has had a good grounding. Europe

is the big thing for him, he has got to try and be successful. The league

is almost secondary. You need to ask the Celtic the Pol their ambitions

are. They have a terrific manager. Enjoy the day.

We have got -- we have gone this far without mentioning Rendon Rogers.

The bookies were telling us it was happening, but how much of a

surprise that Celtic have got a manager at that level? You had asked

a week ago, I would have been very surprised. You might have thought he

could go to a top club in England. It is a fantastic opportunity, a big

club. I also think he fits Celtic perfectly. When you watched him at

the very best when Liverpool were playing the best under him, Luis

Suarez, Raheem Sterling, they were fantastic to watch. Celtic fans

demand that. If you are going to watch teams who want to play good

football on the ground, we have another manager who will play really

good football as well. It can only be good for Scottish football. Some

would say that Celtic have been on a downward spiral. Still winning the

title in this country, but their European performances have been a

disappointment. Is this a statement of intent? You want to go back to

where they normally are, in their way of football, how people see

them. Rangers coming back. I won't say everything is back to normal,

but they want to be there. They want to be ready for the next step.

Brendan Rodgers has so much experience, it is a good move. This

will have the Rangers fans talking today beyond this game, because it

up the ante. Of course. There was a lot of chat that Celtic had to make

a statement with this appointment, and they have done. Gordon Strachan

said you need to speak to Celtic to find out what their objectives are,

but there is no doubt, if you speak to anybody involved, they have got

to get back to competing in Europe because they have fallen away in the

last three or four years. That will be one of the parts of the remit, to

get them competitive on the European stage again. Aberdeen have run them

close the last couple of years, Rangers coming up, Heart of

Midlothian will want to kick on, so there will be competition at home,

but the European stage is where they need to get to. Lee Wallace and

but the European stage is where they Barrie McKay have been called up for

Scotland, you watched the semifinal eatery against Celtic hammered they

were effective. Amazing, how they played. For bucks

-- full-backs coming up and linking with other players. You cannot stay

at the back, you have to have runners, look at the best full-backs

in the world. The assist makers were the full-backs. You need to have

full-backs who can run the full 100 yards. It is not just the case of a

standard overlap. Lea Wallace goes inside the white man and gets to the

byline. They have linked up really well. It will be interesting. You

heard Craig Paterson talking about whether Alan Stubbs will play three

at the back and five in midfield or their normal narrow four-man

diamond. This is where it becomes a tactical battle. If Rangers have the

space in the wide areas, people like Lea Wallace will exploit that. This

is the flip side. When you play attacking full-backs, you have to

get the attacking cover. A deep lying midfielder is important. That

is the big tactical question. I look at them and think that they are good

enough. We have always known what we were getting from Lea Wallace.

Barrie McKay thinking about what lies ahead. He was out on loan,

there were all sorts of doubts about his future, Mark Warburton said, you

are the man for me, and how has he responded?

You need games in your body. I went from Ajax to two -- the Twente

because you need games. He did it also. Getting more knowledge about

what professional football asks. Everybody knew he had the quality

already, and now he shows it. I know exactly what you mean, having played

in wide areas. If you have a fallback that flies by due and you

give the ball away, before but can't go. Barrie McKay does not give the

ball away, he has an intelligent mind, he knows when to take chances,

and that is why they have been so successful. That one time they were

broken on, for every one they have lost, they have scored ten to 15.

Always take the positive. There are far more positives in that link up

than there are negatives. Lea Wallace is really intelligent.

Barrie McKay is a youngster, it is good to have somebody like that

behind him, went to tuck in and went to stay out wide. There is a good

combination between them. It is all well and good getting the

experience, but he needed somebody at Rangers who would give him that

opportunity. He could have got the experience and come back and hit a

brick wall again. Full credit to Mark Warburton for creating the

space for Barrie McKay to do so well. Just over an hour to go to

space for Barrie McKay to do so kick off. Last season Darren

McGregor was a Rangers player will stop in the summer, there was a

parting of the ways, and he went back to the roots, fulfilling his

boyhood dream of paying for Hibernian.

To be given the opportunity so late in my career to come to a club

that I have supported was a dream come true.

I don't think Rod Petrie will be happy, but I used to sneak

My mum and dad were short of cash, I took it upon myself to go

with friends and hopped over the fence.

That was my first experience of Hibs.

Me being a defender when I was younger,

looking up and thinking, this guy has ability.

We are told as defenders to head it and clear it and give it

to somebody who could play, but to see him gracing

Easter Road, I looked up to him and aspired to be him.

I remember the phone call, Danny Lennon asked if I wanted

I did not take too long to make my mind up.

I enjoyed my time at Rangers, they looked after me really well,

a lot of good people there, from top to bottom.

They want their own people, I respect Mark Warburton.

He said at my age I needed to play football, I agreed.

A club I have supported all my life, it was an easy choice.

I signed on the dotted line and got my number 24,

that was me, unbelievable, something I had dreamed

His man-management skills are second to none.

For me, that has been a big factor in why we have got so far

That is a trait that is difficult to acquire.

You can be a tactician and set your team out,

but if you cannot relate to your players and have

a personable conversation with them, it is difficult for them

The boys have worked so hard and done so well in cup conditions.

To potentially be left with nothing to show for it is really sad.

The grit and determination that we will need to show

on Saturday, we will be motivated by losing the cup final

The season is on a knife edge, having lost the League Cup

This is our one chance of redemption.

We are sitting here with a great opportunity to win a Cup that

has not graced Leith in a good long while.

He speaks well. It must be tough when the Rangers manager said, I

don't Inc so, not for me. But it has had a happy ending, he is back with

his boyhood club. He has had a brilliant season. I had not realised

how quick he is. He is lightning quick. He sometimes gets himself in

that position is. But his pace gets him out of him. He has got a really

good understanding with Danny Handling. He seems comfortable going

into a three as well. Not all centre-backs in Scotland have been

able to do that. He has managed to do it. It has been a special season.

Is it a back three or a back four today for Hibs? The managers make

the big money to make the big decisions. That will be one today.

He has played three at the back against Rangers. He has played four

as well. It throws up a conundrum. If they play three, they will have

more bodies in the middle but they will have more width. Craig Paterson

said if you have the wing-backs and the central three, you can combat

Rangers in wider areas because Wallace wants to get forward. Of

course. The wisdom from that is that Unigate one of the big threats of

Rangers. You will confront them further up the park. -- you negate.

I still think they have played so much with a diamond in the middle of

the park. To change it for the cup final would be a big, bold decision.

It is a big temptation. There are games when you say, right, we have

decent play, but if we can nullify each other... Hibs would accept

losing Gray out of the game if you take Wallace out of it because of

the effect he has going forward. Kenny Shiels will feel a flush of

paternal pride if his son can lift the cup. Dean's first taste of

Scottish football... A cup double would be a special moment for father

and son. Given all the troubles they have

had, did you seek advice from your father about making

the move from the SPL to Division 3? Yes, he told me to

stay at Kilmarnock! Throughout my career he has always

been my main adviser. I will always have him

to take advice from. What he can do with the ball

is quite extraordinary. From a very young age,

his friends where he lived in Northern Ireland

were all Rangers supporters. Because he was a free agent,

he wanted to try Rangers I can empathise with that,

because Rangers are a big club. One of the biggest

clubs in the world. Rangers, Celtic, Manchester United,

they are synonymous anywhere you go in Europe or South America,

they are well known. As Rangers celebrate

their return to the top flight The supporters are now reenergised,

back in the Premier League, back to challenge the Old Firm,

the old rivalry. The methodology of the manager

and how they play have lent itself Hibs were very good to my son,

they are a great club, Dean Shiels scores

at the second attempt. To go there and play for a club that

plays football in the right manner with the right philosophy,

that was a great period in his life. If he was to ask your advice,

what would you say? I would say, treat it

like a garden kickabout. You have got to combine

two sources of energy, you have to be mentally

strong and aggressive in your movement and your nature,

and you have got to combine that If you can put that recipe together,

you are pretty close. Kenny Shiels wondering if his son

will play. The all-important team news shortly. Peter Lovenkrands was

speaking about how a big match like this affected him. What were you

like on cup final date for Rangers? I was already a bit older, but when

you are younger, those are the games you are looking forward to. A lot of

tension is normal. Too much is not good because you get heavy legs. The

thing you look back on in your career, those moments you will never

forget. For example when Peter Lovenkrands scored twice against

Celtic in the final. That is why you have all of the work done before.

Those are the special things. One can handle the pressure, someone

can't. Of course that makes you a good player or not. What were you

like before the game, Michael? Some people handle it differently. You

just get used to do it with experience. Very young, I was a

little bit too nervous, the tension affected my game. Once you get a bit

more experience, you learn to relax and handle it. But definitely, there

is a big difference between if you allow too much tension to affect

your game, but you need a bit of nervous energy almost to keep you on

your toes. When I was younger, I had nervous energy almost to keep you on

too much. With more experience, I learned to handle it. I couldn't

handle the tension. I put too much pressure on myself. In training, I

was one of the best. In the game, I couldn't show it. When you get

older, you get to a place where you can handle it. I never understood

it. I had never been nervous in my life, so I never got it. I used to

be slightly jealous of the players who were nervous. Because the

players said it gave you edge and a bit of a boost. I thought it was

better to be comfortable and relaxed. I'm sure there are a couple

of players out there who will be totally comfortable. I can't see

Cummings being a nervous guy. But a belief in yourself. I talked about

Patrick Kluivert, he had so much confidence in himself. He even

thought he was a good penalty taker. I would say, you are rubbish! But he

thinks he is great. In another sense, that makes a good penalty

taker, because he has no fear to miss. You get the complete range in

the dressing room. Someone who is completely calm and someone who is

throwing up in the toilet. Everybody is different. People handle it in

different ways. My personal experience, I had too much tension,

I couldn't handle it, but I learned to deal with it. Some people you

think they are nervous wreck but somehow they managed to handle it

and they perform OK. Every team has different characters. You have to

get a balance because you can't have everybody the same. We talked about

formations and tactics. So much is about who takes the initiative, the

front foot, the back foot. Who sets the tone right from the start. Hibs,

almost every game they want to get in the face of the opponents. A lot

of people said in the build-up, and I would agree, Hibs have to go in

front today. If they go behind, it is a nightmare for Hibs, the

pressure comes straight onto them. It will be tough for them to come

back. They showed against for Kark they can come back but it's really

difficult. -- against Falkirk. But in the other semifinal, Celtic

wanted to do that with Rangers and they never got a sniff of the ball

in the first 45 minutes. It is whoever takes control. 51 minutes

until kick-off in the 2016 Scottish Cup final. Here is what is still to

come. Being Jason Cummings,

by two who should know. He seems to pop up and get

the ball in the box. We look at the making of Mark

Warburton. He is remembered fondly,

but if you know him, he will be rumoured fondly

wherever he goes. He has the ability to make

people feel very special. And will the return

of Anthony Stokes I've enjoyed my time here,

one of the reasons I came back - because I enjoyed

the first spell I had. Rangers will win it easy! 3-0, 3-1.

Hibees! 50-50. I think Hibs, definitely. I

have a funny feeling they might put us, like. Hibees! We are nervous but

we are hoping that Rangers win, maybe 2-1. Come on! Getting closer

and closer to the announcement of the teams. Rangers and Hibs. We have

spoken about what Hibs might do tactically and shape-wise at the

back. I guess Rangers' options are failure limited when you think about

it. Ball is suspended, King and O'Halloran cup tied. Law is short of

match action. I guess his team is almost going to pick itself, Mark

Warburton. For a lot of the season, there has been very few changes in

the Rangers side. A very settled team. A few comings and goings, not

a great deal. Coming into this game, a few guys missing, cup tied,

Dominic Ball suspended. The one question is in the middle of the

park in terms of what is going to happen. In the semifinal, Dominic

Ball plate number six and did it really well. I think Halliday will

drop in there and it is a question of who is going to step into the

middle of the path to take the place to link up with the striker. Not a

huge number of decisions for Mark Warburton to make. He will have been

quite settled in his mind who his team will have been. The one thing,

the number six position, Halliday stepping in and whether he can

negate the potential top of the diamond for Hibs if they go that

way. Going forward for Rangers, the squad size is an issue in a tougher

league. Not much to spare at the moment. No. I remember in our good

times, if you have only 13-14 players who play a lot, you feel

comfortable and you know each other very well. If you see a big team,

you think, is it the right way? For Rangers, it's perfect. This team

knows exactly how they want to play. I think it's a benefit. The only

problem is who is going to play number six? You want a creator, to

pass the ball well. Or you want a more defensive player. We will know

soon. Rangers haven't had many injuries this season. Hibs can

afford just about any player to get injured, they have cover just about

everywhere. It's actually pretty good. I don't think Stubbsy has many

problems. He can change and adapt during the game to do different

things. I'm not sure Rangers have that to anywhere near the same

level. You wouldn't want Rangers to that to anywhere near the same

get a centre-back injured today. If you lose either full-back, it makes

a big difference as well. A very, very good point. No many injuries,

so well done to the medical staff. It might be all about the

preparation and physiotherapy. And the way Mark Warburton takes care of

the squad and organises it, he looks at everything. You have to applaud

him and the medical staff as well. They have to get a bit lucky, that

as well, but that is another thing, Hibs will be slightly more tired. If

it goes to extra time, Hibs will be more tired. But Rangers don't want

any injuries if they are going to do another half an hour. Difficult to

know who is in the position. I would rather have more power on the bench,

so that is one area where Hibs have an advantage. Let's get the teams

with Liam. We are just getting the team sheet now. No real surprises.

Rangers, listed as the home team. Martyn Waghorn plays. He featured

against St Mirren in the league a few weeks ago. In fact, the same

team as that day. When you have 28 goals, he has to start. I think so.

Even if he only lasts an hour, fine, then you can bring on a substitute.

He will chop and change, with Kenny Miller moving into the middle, and

moving out wide. He is the top scorer, so get him on at the start

and see if he can do damage. If he runs out of steam, go to the bench.

Gedion Zelalem also in from the start. We wondered who would partner

Anthony Stokes. Keatings did so well last week. Jason Cummings, you have

to play him as the top scorer, and an excellent record against Rangers.

He is a big-time player, a confident player. 30 yards in, he will shoot.

Hibs going with a back three. That is the formation that allowed them

Hibs going with a back three. That to beat Rangers in the last league

game at Easter Road. Alan Stubbs hoping for more of the same. So

close between these teams over the last couple of seasons, this is the

biggest so far. Kick-off is fast approaching. Alan Stubbs will hope

today's milestone for him is significant, his 100th game as Hibs

manager. It looks like a back three. We know

Rangers are a good team. " A lot of the games they do have a chunk of

possession, as we do. When we have not got the ball, we want to be

difficult to beat. We have played with a three against them before and

one, and with a four. I have gone with that because it could have the

best chance of winning the game. What must you get right today? We

must get decision-making right, working together as a team, and when

we create chances, we have to take them. It will be the same for

Rangers. It has got the makings of a great game. It will be exciting. It

Rangers. It has got the makings of a has got everything you would want

the Scottish Cup final to have today. Rangers have had a rest, you

haven't, do you expect that to have any bearing? I don't know. Whether

they win or lose, I would not look at that as a reason. They have known

about it for a while. Mark has done the best he can do with the

timescale in between the games. We have been going Saturday, Wednesday

or Sunday, Tuesday. It has kept us going. It is the first time we have

had a week in between games for a number of months. There has been a

long time for this club, is today the day? I hope so. It will be

fantastic if it does. But we have 90 minutes, potentially 120, to put the

hard-working buckle -- before we can stop thinking about that.

It is Anthony Stokes and Jason Cummings upfront, and the back

three. It is Gedion Zelalem in midfield for Rangers, instead of

Dean Shiels. Other than that, no surprises. There were very few

places up for discussion. Gedion Zelalem, it will be a big game, he

has not played a great deal, especially in the second half of the

season. You would expect there will be a lot of bodies in the middle. He

is not the most physical. It is a big part, but there will be a lot of

people on top of him. From Hibernian's perspective, the free at

the back. Liam Henderson will be devastated he is not playing, and

Liam Fontaine coming in. But you can understand it. Yes, but it is always

disappointing when good players are not starting. I tried to figure out

who was missing, it was between John McGinn and Liam Henderson. You need

players later on. One of the things you said, Hibernian have looked

tired at the end of some games, and Liam Henderson put everything in for

every single game, so maybe if you need somebody in the last half an

hour, that is the man you need. We thought it would be an open game,

but with this line-up, I don't think it will be an open game. The

full-backs from Rangers will come up, but with five in the back, it is

difficult to go forward. They know that, they don't want to step in the

trap. Everybody says three in the back is five at the back when you

lose the ball. Then you either have to or three midfielders in front of

that. It is difficult for Rangers to break down. They have to be careful.

It will be a tactical game, especially the first 45 minutes.

Don't expect too much in the first half. Hopefully, a gold will open up

the game. Neither team will want to lose the game early on. The

Hibernian full-backs, whether they play four or three, they will

provide the width. When they lose the ball, it will become a five.

Even with a diamond midfield, they are expected to push high up the

park. That is where it becomes a tactical battle, who will get the

best of the full-back area. It is not only that. If you have three

centre-backs, that says something, you are not comfortable with your

team defensively from free kicks and corners, and most fans know they

have lost a lot of goals from there. But if you get free kicks and

corners, you can attack, those lads might make a difference. Maybe that

is what they are working towards today. They have wide players who

can put the ball in. Some useful pre-cup final advice coming up for

Jason Cummings, who has scored 25 goals this season, and he promises

so much for the future. Two other players have traded a similar path,

they are warning the Young pretender to stick on the straight and narrow

so as to not miss out on what could and should be coming his way.

Jason Cummings is going to have the chance to put Hibs

With my new barnet, I thought I would dink it.

It takes a special kind of player and person to do that

in normal time, and then do this to win a semifinal.

But Jason Cummings could not ever be described as ordinary,

and he is the latest in a line of brilliant but erratic

Garry O'Connor scores in the Edinburgh derby!

What Garry O'Connor traits are in him?

Running in behind and shooting early.

He is an in-the-box player, he pops up

He reminds me a little bit of Sparky.

He was a Jambo by birth, but when Hearts released him

as a teenager, Hibs gave him the platform to become

Leigh Griffiths, Fletcher, they have all had an edge to them.

Some people will like that, and some people will maybe

The Hibernian family does not forget its own,

regardless of past indiscretion or promises undelivered.

It is like a small pond, big fish in a small pond.

When you are a football player, everything gets picked up

on footballers these days, but it is part and parcel of it.

At a young age, getting so much money, you never had

You go out, you buy flash motors, nice houses.

Maybe you should have somebody who gives

With the younger ones who are coming into the game, you do feel an extra

sense of responsibility to try and guide them along the right path.

The players in the dressing room have a responsibility

I would not have a bad word to say about Jason.

He is just a young lad that maybe needs to mature ever so slightly,

but there is not a bad bone in his body, he is a great lad

around the place, he is quite chirpy.

He keeps everyone motivated, on their toes, including the gaffer.

I underachieved, maybe that was off-the-field

I don't know how many goals I scored for Hibs, 85 goals for Hibs,

That fills me with pride, nobody can take that away from me.

But I never really fulfilled my potential.

When you are at school, you imagine playing

I have done it, I have played for Hibs, scored a lot

of goals and played for my country, so I can't ask for much

What would it mean for a young local striker to be the man who helps Hibs

As I would say to him, don't let it go to his head.

Be very careful, yes, because everybody will

It is not what he will be thinking about at the moment, but some good

advice in there from two who should know. They achieved great things,

but were left feeling frustrated they did not do more. We were just

chatting about them. Really nice guys. But you can safely say they

could have done a lot more. They have had successful careers. You

look at Jason Cummings, it is almost like an embodiment of them ten years

ago. It would be wise of him to listen to them, because they will

give him some good advice. He is a top talent, Jason Cummings, the

potential is unlimited. Hibernian breed the Centre forwards, they have

a lot of talent but there is something a bit missing. Leigh

Griffiths showed that can be overcome. He has gone further and

been phenomenal. The possibilities of going further there. He is a

talented player. I don't think he links great with Anthony Stokes.

That might be a difficulty for them today, but there is no doubt that

the players they are playing against, he will run every one of

them. Half an hour to kick off in the 2016 William Hill Scottish Cup

final, Rangers against Hibernian 's. The early arrivals taking their

seats. Let's get a flavour what is happening outside.

Who will score? John McGinn. I will go for Rangers winning. But you

never know, football is a funny game. It depends on what Rangers

turns up. Hibernian looking to win this one. Rangers! I do confident?

Yes. Rangers is on a high, we can get into Europe. Simply the best, we

are the people! Hibernian to win, amazing.

Rangers and Hibs do not need to be introduced, this is the 13th time

they have played in the last couple of seasons, four league meetings

this season, it is two victories each.

Deflection, Jason Cummings scores for Hibernian,

Anthony Stokes, Wes Foderingham has spilled it, it is two.

That sets up a nervous finale at Easter Road.

Let's talk about those four games. It tells us something about the ebb

and flow of the season in the division. This was way back in

August, the first league meeting. It was close, it took a bit of magic

from James Tavernier. You need players who are effective with free

kicks, it was a great goal. Those games are tight. It will be today

also, not any different. He has been a real discovery, James

Tavernier. Unbelievable. To score as many goals from full-back as he has,

he has been a real find. The outlet he gives the team, a huge success.

he has been a real find. The outlet Hibs won on November 1st, which was

important because Rangers had roared out of the blocks. Good goals. The

standard of goals in this tie... Long may it continue. Some absolute

crackers. That shows there are some talented players involved. But it

was incredibly tight. That game, the emotion was exceptional. Hibs

getting the winning goal was extraordinary. But it could have

gone either way, and most of the games have been like that. This was

the last meeting of 2015, Michael. Hibs edging into the lead going into

the New Year, but Rangers stamped all over them in a 4-2 win. It was a

massive game. Huge expectation going into it. Quite a lot of thought that

Hibs were going to get the upper hand. Rangers put in a performance

to come out on top. Pat talks about there not being a great deal between

the teams. It has led to two thoughtful managers trying to find

different ways to breakdown the opposition, which has led to Hibs

playing three at the back, and also to Mark Warburton trying to find the

way talking about to break down the opposition and make it difficult for

them. By this stage, Rangers had just beaten Celtic in the semifinal

of this competition and they had won the title and the Challenge Cup, so

there was maybe something of a hangover in this performance when

Hibs won 3-2 at Easter Road. It is amazing how often it happens, the

team who needs to win the game will win it. There is just the extra few

percent. You find a way. The thing that underlines it, I don't think

there is any fear of either team. There is a bit of respect. We were

not hearing much of that from the managers. It was Stubbsy trying to

have a wee wind-up. He found none from Mark Warburton. It shows they

like to slug it out. Hibs win that one. OK, they lost a late goal. Once

again Hibs could find themselves in a position they have done many

times, losing late goals, but it has settled down to a real respect

between the sides. One player who did not score in any of those games,

maybe today might be his day, a player who has played for both

clubs- Kenny Miller. 36 and still doing it after all these years. If

you keep away from big injuries, you can go a long way. If you keep

yourself fit, you can still reach a decent level. Kenny came when I was

there, he scored five times in one game. Against St Mirren? Yes. He has

always the pace. What I like about him, before it was only pace,

running. Now, his runs are always spot on. The right moment to

accelerate. And be on time. The experience he brings... He is so

clever now with all of those years behind him. A great asset for this

young team. He has got better in the course of this season. He was

missing chances earlier on, he course of this season. He was

hasn't missed many lately. He wasn't playing every week. Since they had

injuries, Kenny has had to step up to the plate and he has. He has had

to adapt his game at this stage of his career. He gives a good balance.

A lot of the young Rangers players. He has the legs and energy about

him, whereas he can pick and choose. He realises when he needs to put the

afterburners on. That is experience, and he uses it to his advantage. A

year ago, Mark Warburton might have seemed an unlikely candidate for

Rangers manager, but the last 12 months he has delivered in style. A

Londoner who step out of football for a spell as a city trader. He has

Lamont has dug into his background. Lamont has dug into his background.

-- Alasdair Lamont. Griffin Park, the West London

home of the English This is where Mark Warburton came

to make a name for himself as a football manager,

but his formative years were spent in altogether more

humble surroundings. Mark came from Enfield,

who were a big club back then. He won the Trophy with them

and came here. He played about 105

games, maybe a few more. He would not like me to tell

you how limited he was, but he would tell you more about his

Leicester City youth career. If you know Mark, he will

be wherever he goes. He went out the game,

he went into the City. What differentiated Mark

from the average trader was his networking skills,

he was very good with people, he had the ability to make

people feel very special, When you are managing risk

and currency, you have to be He had the correct appetite

for whatever bank he worked He was studying for the Uefa A badge

in his spare time, but as soon as he finished in the office,

he would go on to train for whatever When we parted company in 2004

he was with Watford. Everybody would like to

have the opportunity to do that, but we don't

have the talent, and he had that. Having cut his coaching teeth

as part of Watford's youth academy, his big break came in February 2011,

the Brentford owner invited him to become part

of the coaching setup here. That summer he was made sporting

director to work alongside We shared the same vision,

but sometimes we had We discussed them honestly.

I did not need a yes man. I needed somebody who honestly

gives me his opinion. We had a lot of discussions

with agents, contract negotiations, and I felt at some point his

desire was changing more to go back to the grass

and I completely understood that. Because of the work we did,

we got recognised by other clubs. He got an offer from

a Premier League club in the sporting-director role,

he was honest with me, I got offered several chances

in the Championship. When I left for Wigan Athletic,

he knew he had a good chance to get I recommended him to the owner,

he asked me at the time, he was a natural choice

to put him in place, Mark played a big part

of the success of Brentford. Last year, there was a parting

of the ways. Mark decided that his view

of the future and the club's He was not out of work

for long, because in June He has embraced it very well.

It is a fantastic city. It was quite a surprise,

a long way from home. I followed him and my ex-players,

James Tavernier, Rob Kiernan, Martyn Waghorn, and I am happy that

Rangers is back in the big time. And the way they play football,

that is also very important for him. They are not going to overturn

Celtic's dominance in ten minutes, there is catching up to do,

but he will know that. The first job is to keep

closing the gap. He did that this year,

you could see that in the semifinal. Going into an Old Firm derby

and getting them to produce To be fair, they were the better

side from the opening minutes. He has kept in touch with the people

who used to work with. Half of the city now

looks at Rangers' result. That is the mark of the man,

very personable. The day he will leave Rangers,

he will leave a talented squad with a lot of quality,

with a lot of value. Everywhere he has gone,

he has improved where he has been. In such a short time,

he has even surprised himself, but his passion, ability,

knowledge of football and how he handles people,

it did not surprise me. I don't think he will stop here.

He can achieve much more. It's always good if someone says

that about you. Everywhere he is gone, he's improved, Mark Warburton.

12 months ago, you would not have had a clue who he was. Nor did we.

When Ajax played Celtic here, I went to the training ground and I heard

from the older people there for many years, they said, such a change

football-wise. Like modern football. He brought it in. All credit to him.

I don't think his venture into the real world, whether the City is the

real world, but risk management... Being out of football does not seem

to have done him any harm. Sometimes it gives you a reality check to see

what the normal world is like, although as you say it is not the

normal world. Yes, good football, fine, good players, great, but the

way he has coped with being the Rangers manager is really

impressive. He has been prodded and poked a few times, which happens

with other managers, the press, whatever. You are under massive

pressure, and he was under huge pressure to make sure the team got

up. But he very rarely seems flustered, he copes incredibly well.

If you listen to Gordon Strachan, Walter Smith, they always say the

same thing- you never know what pressure is until you actually see

this and feel it. He has coped with it. It will be harder next year. I

would imagine that having David Weir alongside him would add some

calmness. Weir cannot spell panic! It is just the fact he is a balanced

guy, quite chilled out. People on camera talking about how he is a

good people person, he handles people when. -- people well. Robbie

Neilson was on loan at Brentford and he spoke about Mark Warburton and

always said what a great character he was. He handled the ball well.

Didn't know much about him as a coach, but he said he was a really

good man manager. That is one of the most important things as a manager,

dealing with people. We are talking about people on the training ground.

They have a good feeling off him and he has created a good atmosphere at

Rangers. Influential in the tactics, sometimes you need a people manager

and sometimes someone else who is technical. I rate David Weir quite

high in that aspect. Is he making a point in only naming

high in that aspect. Is he making a substitutes today? Yes, it's a

shocker. You have plenty of kids, you could throw them on and give

shocker. You have plenty of kids, them a bit of experience. But only

five substitutes... Hibs have got the full complement. Possibly the

point being made to the owners and the people to put money in, we need

more players here. He didn't have much options... Yes, but put some

kids on the bench. He is probably saying, get me Joey Barton, would

you? A memo to the board. He did it in the semifinal, he did not fill

the bench. It's a clear sign, they are stepping up to the Premiership,

they need reinforcement. We are going to go back outside to Jane.

Soon. In the meantime, Anthony Stokes returning to Hibs on loan

from Celtic, and it hasn't been the victory procession he was hoping

for. Second prize in the League Cup final and missing out on promotion

were not part of the plan. He is hoping for third time lucky at

Hampden to give the Hibs fans something smile about.

Anthony Stokes with the opening goal.

I would like to have scored more goals, but I have felt like the last

six or seven games my performances were becoming more consistent.

If I was not scoring goals, I was assisting or in some way

contributing to the team, and my fitness levels got better.

It has been difficult, because at the end of the day

in my head I had it set that I wanted to get Hibernian

back up and help as much as I possibly could.

It has not happened, so it has not been everything I wanted.

But if we lift the Cup, it will take a bit of the hurt away.

It is something the fans have been striving for for a long time.

It will be a nice way to wrap up the season and give them

For only the second time in four seasons

There have been social-media suggestions you might have been keen

I have always been a Celtic fan since I was a kid,

Even if it meant missing out on the final?

He makes a real mess of that penalty, and Rangers have pulled off

Once Rangers got over the line, you need to get focused that

I am delighted to be going to Hampden Park

with Hibernian, to be involved in the game.

Frustration boiling over, he rarely gets a look in these days.

I was at Celtic for four or five months, I knew I would not be

It did not matter what I did in training.

At that stage I was pressing to go out on loan.

The manager either fancies you or doesn't.

Myself and Ronny Deila, I played reasonably well

Then we got to the stage where we both knew it would not work.

I have no hard feelings, I do not hold grudges.

Playing one up front against Partick Thistle was not

ideal, but he is the manager, you respect his decision.

Every selection he makes, you have to do that.

I think I am good enough to be in the team.

I will just have to wait and see what happens with Celtic,

Wes Foderingham has spilled it, it is two.

I have enjoyed my time here, it is one of the reasons I came

back, because I enjoyed the first spell.

The coaching staff have been amazing.

If we play to our capabilities we can beat Rangers.

If they are on it and we are on it it will make for an exciting game.

I am disappointed we were not able to get over the line

But come Saturday, hopefully we can lift the Cup and take a bit

He is keen that his loan spell has a happy ending. A big player, has he

had the right sort of influence since his arrival, or has he

disrupted things by having to fit him in the? It is difficult to say

he has disrupted it, but he has not had the expected impact. He was a

big coup for him to go from Celtic. On the face of it, you thought him

and Jason Cummings would be a deadly duo that would cause problems, but

it has not happened. They have not had a partnership. He is isolated,

one on one. That is the problem. He drifts into Derek Rydan's inside

left position, there is no partnership between them. There have

been moments of quality, but they are few and far between. You want

them in the box, because he is a great goal-scorer. He has scored a

few goals this season, but that is what he was bought for. Anthony

Stokes was bought in the hope they would kick on. You cannot say they

have done that. They have done about as well, maybe slightly better in

the second part of the season. But he has got quality. Now and again,

he has something special. If he scores the winning goal from a bit

of brilliance today, he has been a phenomenal signing! Sometimes you

come to a team and you think, I am the man, you want to show off a bit

and be everywhere. You forget what you are good at, around the box.

Sometimes you forget that. No Liam Henderson, will that be a decision

Alan Stubbs might regret? He is on the bench, but it might be too late.

Rangers scoring the first goal will make it incredibly difficult for

Hibernian to get back into it, but if you have somebody like Liam

Henderson, the adaptation back into a diamond, that might give them a

lift. He will have thought of that. Henderson has done nothing wrong. It

is purely tactical. You do feel sorry for him. If you look at Fraser

Fyvie, he has not had as good a season. There is a lot of sense,

this is a keen to -- 18 to keep it steady to start with. You have

mentioned Fraser Fyvie, you could easily have the lunar geek in the

middle of the park and Liam Henderson linking up. Fraser Fyvie,

he is clearly a good player, but I don't think he has the influence

that he should have. That is where the manager has a decision to make.

I would rather see Henderson in the side. We touched on Kenny Miller

earlier, here is an example of how he shows his match intelligence.

It is instinct. You know that the ball is coming. There is a bit of

luck, but remember that I saw for him, he would never have done this

when he was young. He would have gone to the ball to leave. He knows

where he once said. Coming free from his opponent at the

right time. He was quite lethal. It is not luck when somebody finds

themselves in the right position. That is instinct. It is years of

experience of getting into the right areas at the right time. Goals like

this are fantastic, he has always been capable. I would ask, is he a

better footballer now that he has ever been? I would almost say yes.

The amount of top layers that get to a level at 25, 26 and a I have got

their and stay static and fade away, because it is fitness them, but he

gets better and better. More intelligence every year. He is a joy

to watch. So many miracle stories, it is stunning what he has done. How

significant it could Rangers' inactivity be? They have not played

competitively for three weeks. It is a factor. I remember when we won the

league when we played them the, we went to Marbella to relaxed for four

days or three days, because they's we still had ten days to prepare. We

struggled to come into the game. It could be a problem for Rangers.

Hibernian want to rid themselves of this Hampden Park memory. The League

Cup final when they were here, they lost Ross County. The pain of the

promotion chance missed. They will want to exorcise the Demons of this

one. They lost out on silverware already. An amazing achievement to

get to two cup finals, but to lose them both would be so painful. Yes.

When you couple it with failing to win promotion, it would be a tough

pill to swallow for them as a club and the support. You look at the big

games, the Falkirk games, and this game, small margins. It is not as if

they have not turned up and performed badly. They have stepped

up and good performances, they have just not been able to see it

through. They have another opportunity today. If they could win

this today, it would be a good tonic for them. They do not want the

horror hat-trick. Nobody has spoken about Twente. It has been about

small margins will stop you look at the full cocaine, Kris Commons

smacks the crossbar -- the Falkirk game. There was a team going for it

and a team that got unlucky. Will it level at today? Goodness knows of.

You have to make your own luck. There is the trophy being paraded

around the ground. Rangers are going for their third piece of silverware

of the season. They won the championship and the Challenge Cup.

Can they get the Scottish Cup and Europe as well? Tony Higgins

enjoying the moment. Who is your money on? As an ex-Rangers player, I

have to say Rangers. It will be tight and difficult. Maybe I am

wrong, maybe 1-0, Rangers. A couple of weeks ago I had a feeling that

Hibernian would do it. Now I think Rangers are slight favourites. But

Alan Stubbs said it has the ingredients to be a classic, I think

it could go to extra time. Rangers narrowly for me. It is about three

in a row. I would not be surprised with extra time, anything could

happen then. But you cannot see anything other than Rangers winning,

they are the shadow -- they are the favourites, without a shadow of a

doubt. The teams assembling in the tunnel for the 2016 Scottish Cup

final. How are Hibernian fans feeling? It will be tense in among

the Hibernian support, hoping that the pain can lead to some joy in the

Scottish Cup final. Mark Warburton and Alan Stubbs prepared to lead out

the teams. Let's head to the match action with Craig Paterson and Ian

McLeod. Good afternoon, the build-up just

about done and dusted. Rangers and Hibernian have become regular foes

over the past couple of years, and the latest and final chapter that

will be written of this current series is the grandest of all. This

is the 13th meeting since two of Scotland's biggest clubs were set on

a Championship collision course, they have won six each since chapter

one was written. There does not appear to be much between them. But

something has to give today. Hibernian's failure to join Rangers

in the top flight will be felt in the coming months. For today, it is

all about wiping away the pain, ridicule and taunting, especially

the inner-city division, as the years have piled up without the

Scottish Cup. 114 now. It is such an Achilles heel, such a millstone for

the older Hibernian fans in Achilles heel, such a millstone for

particular. Some would have taken victory today ahead of promotion

back to the top league. It is all they are left with now for this

season at least. Rangers have been idle for three weeks, they were not

exactly in Bloom for the end of the league season. They sealed the title

with four games to spare. But they have not won a game since beating

Celtic in the frantic, frenetic semifinal here last month. Will

losing the winning feeling cost them today as it did in 1994, when they

lost it and begin I did? They were without a victory in their last

five. Dominic Ball is suspended, so Gedion Zelalem plays from the start.

Nine of them began the semifinal. Martyn Waghorn bolsters B-side. He

returns from injury just in time. Kenny Miller has won this twice,

once with Rangers and once with Celtic. Barrie McKay is in the form

of his life. Jason Cummings is restored to the Hibernian starting

XI, he has eight goals in his last ten appearances against Rangers.

Backing him to school is like printing money, he says. Will he

have the Midas touch this afternoon? Calum Logan was the semifinal hero,

Dylan the geek is fit and starts. -- Dylan McGeouch. James Keatings

scored twice against Falkirk in the play-off. Rangers list just five

substitutes, but that did not do them any harm in the last round.

The referee for the big one is Stephen Maclean. The 35-year-old has

described this as the pinnacle of his career as he takes charge of the

Scottish Cup final for the very first time. He has taken charge of

the League Cup final before, though. Jason Cummings, there. 25 goals this

season. Preferred to Keatings today. Hasn't really got that partnership

with Anthony Stokes working as the pair would like, as yet. This would

be some stage to get that started. Kenny Miller has been there, seen

it, Dummett. He'll be hoping to do it again today -- done it. 36 years

of age, Kenny Miller. 37 in December. Still such an important

player for this Rangers side. The formalities just about complete.

Lovely day on Glasgow's south side, for a game of football. And it is

one of the biggest games of Footballer of the Year. The 131st

Scottish Cup final. Despite the clubs involved, for the first time,

being contested by two teams outside of Scotland's top league. We know we

will have a lower league winner for the first time since East Fife

lifted it in 1938. Rangers shooting East in this first half in the blue,

Hibs in the green and white. The second time Rangers and Hibs side

have clashed in the Scottish Cup final. The other one in 79 went to

not one, but two replays. Two goalless draws followed by a 3-2

Rangers win at the end of an epic that required extra time. The cup

went to Ibrox. Paterson has played for both these teams, won the

Scottish Cup as well, and is well placed to tell us how this might go.

I have absolutely no idea and it could be penalties. These teams are

so evenly matched. That's an early challenge for Anthony Stokes. The

referee doesn't want to start dishing out yellow cards at this

stage, but Stokes must be careful. One more of those and he will be on

a yellow and then he will be walking a tightrope. 2009 was the last time

the Scottish Cup went to Ibrox. This is the first chance for the rages

supporters to witness wannabes finals since -- the Rangers

supporters. Had some refurbishment since the

oldest trophy visited that particular part of the capital. No

matter who wins, it will be the fifth new Victor of the tournament

for the first time since the 1950s. Then it was Hearts, Falkirk, Celtic,

Rangers and Hibs. There's a few challenges rattling in

early doors. That's what you want to see, isn't it? If the referee can

see the challenge is genuine, player going for the ball, he lets it go.

For me it just adds a little bit more to the contest. Kenny Miller to

McGeouch, who went off injured. It has been an injury ravaged season.

Here is Martyn Waghorn. Instant impact this season.