Smith: Boyd is the man of the hour March 17 2008
Rangers manager Walter Smith hailed substitute Kris Boyd's match-winning treble in the CIS Insurance Cup final, and admitted: "That's what he does best."
Boyd scored twice after coming on just after the hour mark and then hit the winning penalty in the shoot-out after the teams finished locked at 2-2 in 120 minutes.
His goals turned the final in Rangers' favour, as United twice let the cup favourites back into the match.
"They were vital for us at different stages," Smith told BBC1 Scotland.
"If you get a lot of the ball into the box he'll get you a goal.
"That's what he does best.
"Once I knew it was him coming up for the last penalty I was confident."
But Smith acknowledged the part United played in the thrilling final.
"I'm rather relieved as much as anything else," he said. "It was a very tight game."
He lauded the winning mentality of his players, who could win four trophies this season.
Sunday's victory ended a period of three years without a trophy, and came less than 15 months after Smith returned for a second spell as Rangers manager.
"They work very hard," he said of his players. "They don't like to lose.
"Today Dundee United gave us a full test of that.
"I thought it was an excellent final. Dundee United played the first half far better than we did. We were far better in the second half.
"Extra-time is always a bit in-between. It's pretty remarkable that once Dundee United got into the lead we managed to hit back in extra-time."
Dundee United manager Craig Levein admitted it was "cruel" on his players to lose the final on penalties.
Lee Wilkie, David Robertson and Craig Conway missed from the spot for United.
"It's a cruel way to lose the game," Levein told BBC Radio Scotland.
"I thought we were magnificent today.
"All credit to the players, I thought they were fantastic."
He added: "I feel for everybody associated with the club.
"The chairman will be gutted, the supporters will be gutted, but nobody will be more so than myself. It just wasn't our day today."