So… Ross County’s dream of winning the Scottish Cup Final went down in a blaze of tangerine with Dundee United’s 3-0 victory at Hampden Park on Saturday.

I had a strategy for covering this match. The strategy was to not cover the match at all. I knew that most papers would have their own photographers there getting action shots, so my approach was to get photos of the supporters and send them out to all the papers on spec. Here are some of the photos of fans arriving, and from the early minutes of the game…

15 May 2010: Active Nation Scottish Cup Final. Ross County vs Dundee United at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Dundee supporters arrive in high spirits. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Active Nation Scottish Cup Final. Ross County vs Dundee United at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Ross County supporters arrive with high hopes for their club, who are the underdogs in the match. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Active Nation Scottish Cup Final. Ross County vs Dundee United at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Dundee supporters were in fine voice. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Active Nation Scottish Cup Final. Ross County vs Dundee United at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Pictured are Ross County supporters during the first half of the match, which ended 0-0 despite several chances for both teams. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Active Nation Scottish Cup Final. Ross County vs Dundee United at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Pictured are Ross County supporters during the first half of the match, which ended 0-0 despite several chances for both teams. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Active Nation Scottish Cup Final. Ross County vs Dundee United at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Pictured are Ross County supporters during the first half of the match, which ended 0-0 despite several chances for both teams. Picture: Andrew Smith

Towards the end of the game, with a win for Dundee United looking certain, I went in to the Dundee stands to get pictures of the celebrations. Got some cracking shots…

15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith 15 May 2010: Dundee United supporters celebrate their team's 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Smith