GLASGOW MISS
Miller admits Ger are pining for a Cup win
KENNY MILLER knows it’s been far too long since Rangers won a Scottish Cup.
That’s why, when he talks about their failure to lift the trophy last May at Hampden, the pain is still etched all over his face.
Not just because they lost the match against Hibs. Or the manner in which they conceded two late goals.
No, it’s because, after setting a standard to beat Celtic in the semi-final against all the odds, they fell way below it a month later.
The 37-year-old said: “Last year’s final is a motivation because it does hurt.
“Anyone involved in that game against Hibs would say the same.
“We got past that semi-final against Celtic where there had been so much build-up. We’d been written off.
“So you could see just how much it meant to our lads after Celtic’s last penalty went over the bar in the shoot-out.
“It was a big day for us but unfortunately we never followed it up. We never performed in that final when we should really have seen it out.
“It was so disappointing. It was an opportunity to put another medal in the cabinet and we didn’t take it.
“Did it feel like we’d won it against Celtic? Not for me. I knew there was still a bit to go. But the semi-final meant so much to people. Although it went to penalties we were the better team. Not many people would argue with that.
“Before, I wouldn’t have said that we took our eye off the ball after that. But looking back, our results and performances from that point would suggest otherwise.
“It’s still right there in the memory so it’s important we put that right this year.
“It’s 2009 since Rangers last won the Scottish Cup, which is a long time for this club. The opportunity has come around again and it’s important we use those memories to drive us on.”