Scottish football is still catching its breath after Sunday's exhilarating CIS Insurance Cup final at Hampden where Rangers twice came from behind against Dundee United before winning on penalties.

The Tannadice sided led through a Noel Hunt goal before Kris Boyd's 85th minute goal took the match in to extra-time.

After they fell behind for a second time to a Mark De Vries strike the Scotland forward popped up near the end of extra time to draw the sides level again before he slammed home the winning spot kick.

Celtic have been even more potent in the final stages of games this season and tomorrow's Scottish Cup quarter-final replay against Aberdeen at Parkhead is thanks to an injury-time leveller scored by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in the first game at Pittodrie.

Strachan, however, quickly and concisely dismissed the suggestion that the Old Firm have any special powers of recovery or higher levels of determination and said: "It's money. It's money that makes them better than the rest."

Celtic striker Scott McDonald elaborated on the remarkable ability of the Glasgow giants to rescue matches that look out of their reach, but admitted that the quality of player found at Ibrox and Parkhead is fundamental to their respective successes.

The former Motherwell striker, who, ironically, scored two late goals against Celtic at Fir Park on the final day of season 2004/05 to deprive the Parkhead side of the title, said: "It shows that you have to play to the last whistle.

"The Old Firm put pressure on teams and if you don't take your chances then you could be punished and that happens on a regular basis.

"I know that when I was at Motherwell, it seemed to be the case that we never took our chances and were punished.

"It is that reason as well as the quality of player at the Old Firm clubs - we have Shunsuke Nakamura and Aiden McGeady.

"Naka can do something from a set-piece as you see when he scored a late winner against St Mirren recently.

"It's great to have players like that around you and it gives everyone the sense of belief that 'we are going to get something here, just keep plugging away'."

Strachan, who did not watch the Ibrox side pick up the first trophy of the season, insisted his players have the motivation to retain their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title and the Scottish Cup.

The champions were deprived the chance of going back top of the SPL on Saturday when their match against Motherwell at Fir Park was postponed but Strachan is hoping his relatively young side's energy can compensate for their inexperience in the final weeks of the season.

He said: "I didn't watch the game so I didn't see them lift the trophy.

"But I'm sure that seeing anyone lifting a trophy motivates you because we've been there ourselves recently and enjoyed it and would like to get back to doing it.

"I keep hearing that word bottle but it's a horrible word. I prefer character but sometimes you have a bad day. We are ready to take up the challenge, a new challenge so bring it on.

"We have more energy than perhaps the previous sides I've had but we don't have the experience.

"I can't take a time-machine and whisk the players to the age of 32 and then whisk them back again because I didn't get a time machine for my Christmas - I wish I had.

"We will soon find out (if the energy can compensate for lack of experience). But you have just got deal with it and use the experience that some players have picked up to help the younger players."