Rangers were left heartbroken at Hampden but Kemar Roofe hopes his penalty painkiller will sooth that semi-final hurt.
The Premiership champions had eyes on a first domestic cup win in a decade when they faced Hibs at the National Stadium last month.
But it is Jack Ross’ team looking forward to a date with destiny in the Premier Sports Cup final on December 19 after Martin Boyle’s hat-trick ripped Gers apart.
The arrival of new boss Giovanni van Bronckhors t, though, has proved to be the perfect pick-me -up for the Light Blues and they have bounced back with three straight wins.
They were made to scrap all the way at Easter Road but Roofe was just delighted he could come up with a timely curer after stroking home a late spot-kick after Ryan Porteous ’ trip on Ryan Kent.
The match winner said: “It was a tough one. We knew it was going to be a tough one away from home and with the atmosphere here. It was always going to be a difficult game.
“Of course (we had a point to prove). That is what football is about. They did us in the semi-final and it hurt us a lot.
“So it was important for us to get the three points today.
“All games are crucial. They are a good side. It was an away game at a difficult place to come and we had to grind it out.”
Roofe now has 10 goals for the season despite having just 10 of 19 his appearances this season coming from the kick-off.
But he made his contribution count yet again after climbing off the bench to stroke home the winner four minutes from time.
"That is the job if you are coming on as a sub,” said the Jamaica international.
“You have to make an impact and help the team get over the finishing line. The guys that came on, I think we did that.
“Do I feel good? Of course. I am ready. I just enjoy football now. I just want to win games and score goals.”
Rangers were a side in danger of going stale under previous boss Steven Gerrard but there is a freshness about them now that Van Bronckhorst has taken command.
It’s been a perfect start to his tenure, with three points in Leith wrapping up a dream first full week in the Ibrox hottest following the wins over Sparta Prague and Livingston.
Gers were dominant in those first two triumphs under the Dutchmen but this time they had to battle through as Hibs sought to double up on their Hampden shock.
“It was a very big win,” said Gio. “It was a tough game as we expected before kick-off.
“The game showed that it was really close.
“There was a lot of physical play from both teams and not many chances.
“But we’ll take the win and it’s three more points for us.
“The game was decided by transition moments.
“In the first half, we had some good moments to score. There was a great chance for Morelos.
“In the second half, you could see when we won the ball we had the spaces to attack.
“However, we weren’t too sharp in those moments and we gave a lot of loose balls away.
“So we had those transition moments to defend as well.
“But those moments were there for both teams but luckily for us we came away with the win.”
Connor Goldson has come under scrutiny since questioning the hunger of his side in the wake of that semi-final shocker.
But beside Calvin Bassey, he was a rock as Gers stood firm in the face of some second-half Hibs pressure.
He said: “It’s always good to come to places like Hibs away, it’s a tough opponent and they’re a good side, very well organised.
“So to keep a zero here is massive for us because we knew we would always get chances.
“Today we scored from a penalty and after that we controlled the game with the substitutions. I put in Jon Lundstram so defensively after that we were very solid. I am very pleased with the win.”
And the new Ibrox boss was pleased to see Roofe take his chance after being thrown on with the game still in the balance.
He said: “There needs to be competition in any team and any squad. I have to pick my 11 and also change the game with my subs.
That is my role, to see what the team needs at moments of the game. I wanted to bring on Fashion Sakala and then we got the penalty and I switched to Lundstram.
“Those are the moments when you have to decide and I think I decided well.”
