Bell sounds the alarm on Queen of the South’s corner kick tricks

Cammy Bell is counting on Kevin Clancy being wise to Queen of the South’s tricks in today’s Premiership Play-off quarter-final return at Ibrox.

The Rangers keeper was left livid after being beaten by an unmarked Derek Lyle at Palmerston last Saturday night.

He and his team-mates protested loudly to Alan Muir that Chris Higgins had held Ricky Foster at a corner to create the opportunity. But the referee was having none of it.

And while Bell knows there is nothing he can do about that goal now, with the Light Blues defending a slender 2-1 lead he is anxious there is no repeat.

“I would like to think the officials will be ready this time,” said Bell. “I know it is tough for them because there is so much that goes on in the box at a corner.

“We also know that blocking is part and parcel of football.

“So refs have hard decisions to make on the day. Sometimes they go for you, and sometimes they go against you.

“But, hopefully, if Queens try the same trick again, they might recognise it this time.”

The 28-year-old started his career as a youth player with the Dumfries club, and returned to the Palmerston on loan in 2008.

He has a further connection as he was a team-mate of Queens’ manager James Fowler at Kilmarnock.

Suggestions that it would be a positive thing if Rangers opponents were ever to get back to the top flight, though, draw short shrift.

“It would be great for that area, yeah but it is not my concern really,” said Bell.

“I am desperate for Rangers to get promoted, and will be doing everything I can to achieve that.

“I love this club, and the top level is where I want to play my football. I want it for the fans as well.

“They have stuck by us all season. It has been a hard campaign, but we are still in the thick of things and, hopefully, we can end this season on a real positive.

“For me, it will be a success if we get promoted.”

Rangers going up, Bell argues, would be the catalyst for a succession of good news stories.

“If it happens, then hopefully Stuart McCall will get the manager’s job, the boys who are out of contract will get new deals and everyone will be happy,” he said.

“So the whole season comes down to this one game.

“Hopefully there will be more matches we can say that about, but this is the one right in front of us.

“The fans will be there for us in huge numbers, and we all need to stick together and be a force together.”