Greenock vs Dundee United - Cammy Bell targets a win ahead of play-offs

Posted Saturday, May 06, 2017 by PA

Dundee United goalkeeper Cammy Bell claims there are arguments for saying it would be better to finish third in the Ladbrokes Championship than second.

But, wherever United end up after Saturday's final fixtures, Bell is determined to ensure they go into the play-offs on the back of a win.

With Falkirk one point and 14 goals better off than third-placed United ahead of their final match at Dumbarton, Bell's side need to beat Morton at Cappielow and hope for the Bairns to slip up in order to avoid a quick return to Greenock for the start of the play-offs on Tuesday night.

With Morton likely to rest players, Bell admits he would like the added break that second place would bring.

But the former Rangers goalkeeper, who was on the end of a play-off final loss to Motherwell two years ago, argued that building up momentum could be just as important.

"There are different ways of looking at it, it's momentum going into the play-offs no matter where we finish and obviously it would be nice to finish second," he said. "It's out of our hands but all we can do is get three points and see where it takes us.

"It would be great for the players to get a little bit of rest but I have seen it work the other way as well, where you don't have a competitive game for 10 days and the other team can build momentum.

"I don't really know if it's better to finish second or third. I have been in the play-offs myself with Rangers and we finished third and we beat Hibs, who had finished second. You can look at it different ways.

"Obviously we would like to finish second but if we don't then we just need to deal with the situation and get on with the games ahead of us, which would be Morton next week."

There is no doubt about the position to avoid at the other end of the table with St Mirren needing a point against champions Hibernian at Easter Road to escape the play-offs.

Raith Rovers need to beat Ayr to have any hope of getting off second-bottom, while a repeat of their 5-0 defeat by St Mirren last weekend would see them go down automatically.

Manager John Hughes branded their Paisley loss "embarrassing and unacceptable", and he he told Raith TV: "The great thing about football is they have a chance to put it right on Saturday. What an opportunity - if it doesn't inspire you, don't put the strip on.

"I'm not going to protect the players after last week's performance. We put so much preparation in and it was one of these performances that you are looking in disbelief at what you are watching.

"If that's their attitude and desire and character in a cup final then why should I protect them? They pick up their wages, it's about time we got a little bit back.

"They need to stand up, grab each other by the scruff of the neck, look each other in the eye and say: 'That's not acceptable'.

"We have an opportunity to put it right on Saturday and all I'm saying to them is win, just win the football match, by hook or by crook, just win. Be it by character, desire or quality, win the football match."