Andrew Dickson reports from Hampden Park

KEVIN THOMSON feels he should not have been sent off for his challenge on St Mirren's Steven Thomson during the League Cup final.

The Rangers midfielder made a strong challenge on the Buddies player in the early stages of the second half of today's match and was shown a straight red card for the tackle.

It seemed to be a harsh decision from referee Craig Thomson and was one the former Hibernian captain felt merited a caution rather than a straight dismissal.

He was a relieved man as Kenny Miller's goal seven minutes from the end gave Gers a 1-0 win they scarcely deserved.

Thomson said: "I was thoroughly disappointed. The game wasn't quite going according to plan and the manager gave us a wee kick up the backside at half-time.

"He wanted a wee bit more from the team and I felt if the referee had blown for the foul on me to begin with, it would have stopped my challenge from happening.

"It was a lunge and I never got much of the ball but there certainly wasn't any malice in my tackle yet that's the third time Craig Thomson has sent me off now.

"I get on quite well with Steven Thomson and I had a wee bit of banter with him throughout the game. I'm pretty sure he knows that there was no intent.

"The sending-off ruined my cup final to be honest and I'm really disappointed with how it panned out.

"I'm a winner and I like to think my style reflects that. I spoke to the boss about it and we were both disappointed with the red card."

Thomson was later joined in the dressing room for an early bath by team-mate Danny Wilson and the two of them were delighted when Miller broke the deadlock.

The Ibrox number eight added: "I sat and watched the game in the dressing room after I was sent off and I really felt as though I was letting the boys down.

"I thought the decision to sent me off was poor but I still felt for my team-mates as they had to play with 10 men.

"We're all champing at the bit to win a clean sweep this year and this was the first hurdle today so I was gutted to go off early and then for Danny when he went off.

"I feared the worst and I was delighted when the goal went in. It was the only time I jumped up after being sent off.

"The day is a bit of an anti-climax for me now because I feel I let everyone down, even if the boys dug it out.

"The fact they managed to do that and showed such resilience to grind out a result was great. It says a lot about them."