ALEX TOTTEN could have used one of those painted smiles favoured by losing nominees at the Oscars as he watched his former team deny his present one the Tennents Scottish Cup, Instead, the little Falkirk manager chose, characteristically, to adhere to the old aphorism that it's no loss what a friend gets.
As Totten embraced Paul Wright at the end of a colourful, sometimes pulsating, ultimately satisfactory final, it was not difficult to recall those stories told by hostages of the special relationship they have formed with their captors.
Wright, the Kilmarnock striker, had been Totten's principal torturer, recovering from an appearance threatening injury in time to score the only goal at Ibrox and take the cup to Rugby Park for the first time in 68 years. Both men knew what they owed each other.
The manager had signed the player twice in recent years, bringing him to St Johnstone after a couple of hellish spells with Queen's Park Rangers and Hibernian and, in turn, recruiting him to the Kilmarnock cause in 1995.
Wright had justified Totten's belief by becoming each club's most valuable asset, his goals and general leadership of the Kilmarnock attack in the last two seasons contributing hugely to keeping them in the Premier Division.
Totten, of course, was not there to enjoy the latest piece of escapology - when Kilmarnock stayed up by virtue of a last day draw with Aberdeen - as he had been sacked by the club at the turn of the year and had begun sprinkling his stardust over Falkirk in the First Division.
But he knew before the first whistle of the final that Wright would be his new side's most menacing adversary. That's why I signed him twice," he said afterwards, picking out his old protege for special mention.
"But I said when I left Kilmarnock that whoever took over would be a lucky man and so it has proved," he added.
His successor, Bobby Williamson, would surely drink to that and, judging by the party which began in Kilmarnock on Saturday night, probably still is. Totten had said before the match that his players were there because they deserved to be and he would be proud of them. whatever the outcome.
He had good reason to take a bow on his players' behalf after the game, but the winners deserved their victory. Most of the Falkirk support would leave the great stadium convinced that they were unlucky. especially when a more spirited performance in the second half brought them a late `equaliser'.
Defender Neil Oliver's goal, however, was disallowed for offside. But, overall, Kilmarnock had more quality, inventiveness and incisiveness. Even if they appeared not to be so dominant after the break as they had been before, they still created the two best chances of the second half.
Andy Gray, the former Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and England midfielder, managed to run back and make the telling challenge as Jim McIntyre, the Kilmarnock striker, ran out of legs after being released through the middle of the Falkirk defence. It was a golden opportunity.
Alex Burke, the teenage winger, was also played in from the left by the veteran Gus MacPherson, but drove the ball straight at Nelson when a cutback would surely have allowed the lurking Wright to score his second. Wright's finishing in the 21st minute was contrastingly clinical.
When Burke's corner was delivered from the right, McGowne and McKenzie rose in the challenge, with the ball breaking off the latter, travelling across the area to Wright at the far post. The striker slightly miscued with his right foot on the turn, but the ball bobbled away from Nelson.
He admitted afterwards that it was not the sweetest contact he has ever made, but added: "That's the kind that always go in." Kilmarnock's cup triumph is an extraordinary prize for Williamson, who was happily learning the coaching trade with the club's youngsters when Totten's departure led to his being offered the position of caretaker manager only last December.
