CAMMY BELL has warned his Rangers team-mates that opening up a clear path to the SPFL Premiership will hinge upon keeping the door bolted at the back.

 

The former Kilmarnock goalkeeper has recently returned to the side following six months out of action due to shoulder damage and was given little to do as the Ibrox club gave their season a much-needed injection of life with a 2-0 win over second-placed Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday.

There were many positives in that display. Bell knows which one he regards as most important. That victory in the capital, carved out thanks to switching to three central defenders, delivered only Rangers' third clean sheet in 13 matches.

The manager, Stuart McCall, has given the very distinct impression that a 3-5-2 formation is not to become a fixed arrangement during his time at the helm, but Bell is clear about the fact that the same, miserly spirit exhibited at the weekend must remain in place for Rangers to have any chance of ending this utterly underwhelming campaign with promotion.

"It was good the gaffer put me back in and that I got a clean sheet on Sunday," he said. "We haven't done enough of that this season.

"We need to start demanding more in that regard.

"I have always said it's about defending as a team. It's not just the goalie and the back four.

"We need to be hard to beat and we have worked on that in training. We need to be more solid and give our attacking players the chance to go and win us the game."

After an awkward opening in which Liam Fontaine could easily have opened the scoring with a header, Rangers generally did keep Hibernian's gas at a peep. They did give more creative players the chance to flourish with Lee Wallace and Darren McGregor doing particularly well as advanced full-backs.

It was, arguably, their best performance of the season. There has not, admittedly, been much competition for that honour, but Bell believes it is only the beginning.

"We've set a high bar, but we are playing for Rangers Football Club, so the bar should be set high," he stated. "We should be able to handle the pressure and I'm sure we will.

"I definitely think there is more to come. There is always room for improvement.

"We know it was only a small step at Easter Road.

"The manager got his tactics right and it worked out great for us.

"I don't think many people were expecting us to go there and win, but we knew ourselves we could go there and win.

"We've got players who are good enough. We have under-achieved this season.

"Everyone knew we had that performance in us. It was just about trying to bring it out. It's not been there enough this season."

There is a distinct lack of real quality and pace in this Rangers side. Whatever happens, it will have to be rebuilt in the summer. However, it did look much more organised at the weekend with the players showing much more in the way of hunger and appetite.

"I think the tactics were great, but we also pressed with a lot of energy in our team," said Bell.

"The players have always been passionate. I think it's just down to the enthusiasm the new manager has brought. He was always a passionate player himself and he has brought a new lease of life to some players.

"I had worked with the new gaffer in the past with Scotland a couple of times and knew him from there.

"He's only been appointed until the end of the season so he has a point to prove, as we all have.

"I've got a contract, but I have a point to prove. I need to prove I am good enough to play here and that I want to play for the club, which I desperately do. Others are playing for contracts."

Bell also believes that beating Hibernian on their own patch was vitally important, considering Rangers are likely to have to meet them in the end of season play-offs.

"It was a mental marker for us," he said. "We have beaten them in the Petrofac Training Cup this season as well and they have possibly caught us when we haven't been on great form."

Bell, of course, is preoccupied with re-establishing himself at club level following such a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He has not lost sight of his international ambitions, though.

Wallace has expressed the view that hanging around the lower leagues with Rangers has destroyed his Scotland career, but his team-mate still dreams of adding to the one cap earned in a friendly against the Faroe Islands back in 2010.

"I would never say it's over," said the 28-year-old. "I'm desperate to play, but the goalkeeping situation is very strong and I respect that."