Falkirk 0 Rangers 3

Nacho Novo took Rangers most of the way to yet another Hampden faunal as he scored two of the three goals it took to overcome Falkirk in the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final. The Rangers fans in the 24,507 crowd must have been cheered to see Kris Boyd in from the start tonight after he was was dropped for Saturday's goalless draw at Aberdeen. One set of fanes were prepared to make their views known with a banner declaring: "No Boyd, No goals, No title". However it was another player making a start for a change who stole Boyd's thunder and two good goals to stifle Falkirk's' good football. Novo picked up two goals in the first half and Boyd sealed the win late on shooting into an empty net. Tomorrow night sees Celtic and Dundee United play to see who will meet Rangers on March 15 in the final. Whoever wins through will no doubt have noticed that Rangers were not effective in killing off a lively Falkirk side who could have made life more difficult for their opponents tonight if they had made the most of their chances and made the right decisions when in danger areas.

Rangers made three changes from Pittodrie, with Steven Naismith also back in the team, while Falkirk boss John Hughes handed a debut to goalkeeper Dani Mallo, which meant Robert Olejnik had to be content with warming the bench. This tie could have been so different had Falkirk taken a couple of early chances, both of which fell to Steve Lovell. Falkirk were out to entertain and the good football was coming from the Bairns. Lovell bore down on goal in the opening minutes after pouncing on a lovely pass from Neil McCann but Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor raced off his line to block the point-blank shot with his legs. The Falkirk forward was not put off by that failed attempt and had another go a few minutes later, this time forcing McGregor to tip narrowly past his left-hand post with a well-struck effort from just inside the box.

The Bairns were left rueing those missed chances when Rangers surged into the lead with just eight minutes gone. A Pedro Mendes corner found Madjid Bougherra, who flicked the ball into Novo's unattended at the back post and the striker bundled over the line from close range. Novo then turned provider when he crossed for Naismith, who saw his shot blocked by Thomas Scobbie before Boyd blasted the rebound wide. Falkirk were not afraid to play passing football close to their own danger area but it must have a nightmare for their fans as they screamed to get the ball away from Mallo's goal. Rangers attempted to crank up the pressure and Mendes tried his luck with a shot from distance which forced a decent save from Mallo, before Naismith sent a fierce drive across the face of goal and wide. Boyd then stepped up for a free-kick 35 yards out, after Novo had been fouled by Steven Pressley, but the low effort failed to make it past the Falkirk wall. The striker looked far more dangerous with a shot from the edge of the area moments later but Mallo was up to the task and punched to safety. However, the Falkirk goalkeeper was plucking the ball out of the net again five minutes before the break when Novo raced onto a Steven Davis ball and coolly sent an angled drive into the back of the net from eight yards in plenty of space.

Grim faced Hughes knows he has been well beaten

Falkirk: Dani Mallo, McNamara, Bullen (Higdon 60 mins), Barr, Pressley, Scobbie, Arfield, McBride, Cregg (Stewart 69 mins), McCann, Lovell
Subs not used: O'Brien, Holden, Olejnik

Attendance: 24,507

Referee: C Richmond