FALKIRK manager Peter Houston accused his opposite number, Alan Stubbs, of disrespecting his side after they overcame their championship rivals to book a place in the Scottish Cup final.
The 56-year-old, a winner in this competition with Dundee United in 2010, saw Falkirk triumph against Hibs at Hampden by virtue of a solitary headed goal from Craig Sibbald as the Bairns laid the ghost of their epic 4-3 semi final defeat against the same opponents in this competition in 2013.
While the Easter Road side had the majority of play and chances, Houston took umbrage about the suggestion from Stubbs that "only one team deserves to be in the final". His case was strengthened by the fact the match conformed to a pattern of meetings between these sides this season, Falkirk having now won three by a 1-0 scoreline, with the other ending a 3-3 draw.
"After every game we've played against Hibs this season, they've deserved to win - according to Alan," said Houston. "What he should maybe think about is where we're getting our goals from - crosses into the box. Deal with it. Go back and look at the videos. I'd say that's his problem and not mine."
There was little argument with the facts of the match. Hibs struck the post through Fraser Fyvie, and the bar through Scott Allan, while Jamie McDonald gratefully clutched the ball on at least twice when lying prone on the ground.
"Of course, Hibs were unfortunate not to win the match," said Houston. "I'm straight up on that. They put a lot into it. They hit the crossbar and the post. But we should have had a penalty when Botti Bia Bi was brought down - the fourth official Crawford Allan agreed with me on that. So it could have been 2-0 to Falkirk.
"But rather than say only one team deserved to win he should think about how the team you," he added. "They played the better football today but don't disrespect us by saying we didn't deserve to win - we put a lot into the match defensively. And the most important thing is that we scored the goal to win the match."
This will be Falkirk's first Scottish Cup final since 2009, with Celtic facing Inverness at Hampden today for the privilege of meeting them in the final. Houston said he would prefer the opposition to be the Highlanders - and wouldn't rule out that prospect. A Uefa rule change means that Falkirk must prevail on May 30 if they are to play in Europe next season. "We'll have a better chance in the final if we get Inverness," he said. "No disrespect but I'd rather have them and it could happen."
Houston, who had two different spells at Falkirk as a player, said that winning the cup would equal his efforts with United in 2010, but admitted his chances could be seriously hampered by fixture scheduling. Assuming they are unable to overhaul their four-point deficit on Queen of the South to clinch a play-off spot, there will be fully 28 days between their final league match and the Scottish Cup final.
"We'll have a problem if we don't finish in the top four," said Houston. "Between May 2 and the final on May 30 we'll have a big break. I'm not sure what we'll do but I'm happy to have the problem. I'll just use it as an excuse if we get beat in the final!"
Hibs had gone 113 years without a win in this competition before Stubbs came along, but the Englishman last night bemoaned his side's lack of finishing and urged them to channel their disappointments by winning promotion to the premiership.
"You can accept maybe one coming back off a post and into the keeper's hands but when you have another which trickles into his hands when he is already on the floor stranded you maybe start to think it is one of those days," he said. "I am disappointed we haven't taken them but there is only one team that deserves to be in the final today. This will make us stronger, it has to."
It was all something of a family affair for the goal hero of the day. "My brother [Gary, a Hibs fan] sent me a long emotional text this morning, saying he was proud of me and that Hibs come second," said Sibbald, the diminutive attacker who scored a headed winner for the second round in a row. "He said whatever happened he was proud of me and that I should get a goal."
Goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald booked a place in his third Scottish Cup final, after keeping goal for Queen of the South against Rangers in 2008 and in the 5-1 win for Hearts against Hibs in 2012. "Obviously it is difficult beating the 5-1 and actually winning the cup," he said. "But winning this is massive. There is something about the Scottish Cup that obviously agrees with me."
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