Rangers manager Walter Smith claimed Charlie Adam's sportsmanship cost him a booking against Hearts and a CIS Insurance Cup final spot.With nine minutes remaining of the Hampden Park semi-final and Rangers cruising through goals by skipper Barry Ferguson and Jean-Claude Darcheville, Adam was booked by referee Mike McCurry after a challenge with Jambos defender Robbie Neilson.

The Rangers midfielder had been booked against East Fife in the previous round and will have to sit out the final against the winners of the other semi-final between Dundee United and Aberdeen which was postponed on Tuesday because of a waterlogged pitch at Tynecastle.

Smith insist his player's sense of fair play led him to be the victim on the night.

He said: "He misses the final and that is disappointing. Of all the bookings I thought that was the most difficult to understand.

"It was one of those situations where he had the opportunity, if you like, to foul badly, he could have gone over the ball.

"I thought that it was extremely fair of him (not to) and I felt he was the victim of the challenge rather than anything else.

"To miss the final because of what, in my head, wasn't a foul, is a hugely disappointing factor."

Ferguson's goal just after the break was shrouded in controversy.

Chris Burke's pass to the Scotland captain inside the Gorgie box appeared to strike him on the arm before he turned and whipped a shot past Steve Banks.

But there was no doubt about the validity of Darcheville's goal in the 69th minute when he converted a Burke cross in from close range to give the Ibrox side the opportunity to win their first trophy in almost three seasons.

Smith said: "It is great to be in the final and we deserved it. I thought we played well on an awkward pitch.

"We had to impose ourselves on the game and we did so after the first five or 10 minutes. Once we got the goal we played very well."

However, Hearts' stand-in boss Stevie Frail insists Ferguson did use his arm and his goal changed the course of the game.

He said: "It was definitely handball. I don't think it was intentional but it changes the direction of the ball, it allows it to bounce for him to swivel and finish with his left foot albeit he still had a lot to do.

"It was a great finish from him, it probably changed the course of the game.

"They got a lift from it and they probably had their best period after that."

Frail lamented the good chances missed by striker Andrius Velicka, especially the sitter moments after the Edinburgh side had gone behind when he blasted wide with only Rangers keeper Allan McGregor to beat.

He said: "If it was to fall at anyone I would have wanted it to fall at Velicka because of the way he has been playing recently.

"It might have changed the course of the game but it needed some composure."

Hearts are now out of both cup competitions and but Frail warned his players not to put the tools away for the rest of the season.

He said: "I have read that if we had lost then that was our season over. Well, it's not for me..

"I've told the players that if they think the season is over then they can stay in that dressing room.

"I don't want guys who will wallow in this, or wait until May to jet off to the sun.

"I need guys who will roll their sleeves up and our target is a top six spot. Every game is a cup final for us, starting against Gretna."

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