From Lindsay Herron at Hampden

JUBILANT Walter Smith had thought he had seen just about everything in football in over 40 years at the top level but today's astonishing League Cup success might just top them all.

Rangers had two men sent off - Kevin Thomson and Danny Wilson - yet they somehow managed to conjure up a winning goal through Kenny Miller to lift the trophy for the 26^th time.

It was utterly astonishing as resilient Rangers somehow prevailed in the most testing of circumstances and that was not lost on the manager.

He punched the air and celebrated with the fans at the end as if it was the first trophy he has ever won.

And of course the ramifications are massive as it means Rangers are still on course for a clean sweep of the honours.

Smith said: "We are delighted especially under the circumstances as it looked extremely unlikely that we would win.

"When you have beenin the game a long time you think you have encountered most things but I have never been in a final when you go down to nine men and managed to come out winning.

"it's a fantastic achievement.

"As I said to the boys, it doesn't matter how many times you win trophies you can never win enough of them and that's where I'm from.

"The unlikely circumstances puts this up with the best of them. I was delighted with each of the previous ones I was involved in so I'm equally delighted to be involved in this one given the circumstances."