Rangers 2 (Boyd 2 [35, 73]) Hearts 0
Attendance 49,792
‘Eck's tenure as Boss had commenced in December 2001 with a 2-2 draw at Motherwell (his first game at Ibrox the following week saw Dundee United defeated 3-2), and today's victory brought closure on four-and-a-half years that had yielded seven trophies, including two League Championships.
Hearts of course travelled west today having already secured second place in the SPL courtesy of Celtic's shameful capitulation at Tynecastle last Sunday and the peculiar iniquities of the League format in this country – Aberdeen's visit on Wednesday being the Dons' third such trip of the campaign. Consequently the Jambos have secured a place in the Second Qualifying Round of next season's Champions' League – the trophy itself has yet to be paraded down Gorgie Road despite the hysteria of the past few days.
There was just one change from Easter Road with Peter Lovenkrands replacing Thomas Buffel.
Rudi Skacel, captaining the visitors for the first time, almost opened the scoring in eight minutes when his eighteen-yard shot was beaten out by Ronald Waterreus.
Two minutes later – just to emphasise that this was not a game with nothing at stake – Dado Prso and Nerijus Barassa were spoken to by Referee Iain Brines for a scuffle. The official had replaced the original appointment Kenny Clark who had called off with a calf injury.
Waterreus was the busier of the two goalkeepers – highlighted in twenty minutes when he turned wide Michal Pospisil's header from a Calum Elliot cross.
The Czech centre should have done better eight minutes later when he shot wide following a Skacel break – but the miss of the match occurred on the half-hour when Boyd sliced his effort wide after Brahim Hemdani's drive had been deflected into his path.
Boyd came closer with his next effort five minutes later – his angled drive being turned wide by Steven Banks following good work by Chris Burke and Dado Prso on the right.
The opening goal duly arrived from the subsequent corner – Boyd heading home from Lovenkrands' inswinger in 36 minutes.
It was almost 2-0 six minutes later from the same combination – Lovenkrands feeding Boyd who saw his shot blocked by Banks.
World Snooker Champion (and bluenose) Graham Dott was presented to the 49,792 crowd at the interval – red, white and blue ribbonds adorning the trophy.
Rangers suffered an injury blow four minutes into the second-half when Steven Smith limped off to be replaced by Alex Rae.
Beslija was through on goal from a Julien Brellier pass in 51 minutes only to see his angled shot beaten out by Waterreus.
Eight minutes later Waterreus denied Skacel from a Pospisil knockdown – blocking the Czech's drive.
Lovenkrands might have done better in 61 minutes, firing into the side-netting from a Dado Prso pass.
The scores should have been levelled five minutes later when Pospisil shot wide after Waterreus had parried Bruno Aguiar's twenty-yard shot.
It was end-to-end stuff now with Boyd shooting over from a Prso cutback in 69 minutes.
However the former Kilmarnock striker made it 2-0 four minutes later when he converted a Gavin Rae cross.
It should have been 3-0 in 77 minutes – Sotirios Kyrgiakos somehow heading over from a Chris Burke cross when it seemed easier to score.
Immediately thereafter Lee Robinson replaced Waterreus in goal – the youngster coming on for his debut, with the Dutchman going off to a standing ovation on what will probably be his last appearance for the club.
Rangers played out time comfortably – with the electronic scoreboard proclaiming “Thanks for the memories, Alex – good luck.”
The final whistle saw the outgoing Rangers' Manager receive a massive ovation from all sides of the ground, and afterwards an emotional McLeish reflected:
“I was overwhelmed and humbled by the fans' reception. I was the eleventh in a long line of Rangers' Managers who have won trophies. It's a draining job, but I'm glad I stayed right to the end. Kris Boyd has had a remarkable half-season. I've had a tough couple of seasons, but I leave the club in a healthier state financially.
As a matter of interest, Boyd netted a remarkable 20 goals in 21 games for Rangers.
McLeish continued:
“If I had any advice to give Paul Le Guen it would be to try and steer clear of injuries.
“Of all the memories, I would perhaps select the first trophy success, the 2003 Treble, and the final day of last season.”
Finally, Eck quoted legendary Ibrox Manager Bill Struth:
“In times of failure, one has to show tolerance.”
RANGERS Waterreus (Robinson 77); Murray, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Smith (A. Rae 49); Burke, G. Rae, Hemdani, Prso; Boyd, Lovenkrands (Buffel 66) UNUSED SUBS Malcolm, Novo. Lennon, Ashikodi
HEARTS Banks; Barassa, Berra, Petras, Wallace; Beslija (Mikoliunas), Brellier (Johnson 61) , Aguiar, Skacel; Elliot, Pospisil (Makela 73) UNUSED SUBS Gordon, Neilson, Camazzola, Cesnauskis
REFEREE Iain Brines