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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Steven Mair

John Lundstram dedicates epic Rangers winner to Jimmy Bell and roars 'we can do it'

Rangers goal hero John Lundstram sent his side to Seville – and then dedicated his strike to the late Jimmy Bell.

Before kick-off in the Europa League semi-final against RB Leipzig the club paid tribute to their iconic kitman after his passing on Tuesday.

Then followed 90 whirlwind minutes in which captain James Tavernier and Glen Kamara sent them racing into a 2-0 lead.

Christopher Nkunku hit back to leave the tie on a knife edge – but Lundstram settled it 10 minutes from time as he smashed a loose ball into the bottom corner.

And he says it was all for his mate Jimmy – who he calls "the bedrock of the club".

Lundstram told BT Sport: “Words can’t describe how much Jimmy meant to all of us. He was the bedrock of the club and touched everyone.

“I’ve only been here for one season but he took me in and I can’t speak highly enough of him and I just want to dedicate my goal to him, I absolutely love him to bits.

“We can do it, why not? Of course we can."

Lundstram's goal sent Ibrox bonkers and whether or not they do beat Eintracht Frankfurt to deliver a first European trophy in 50 years, his strike will be played over and over for years.

He added: “I can’t put it into words, honestly. I came into the game with a good feeling and thinking we could get a result but to actually go out and do it…I can’t put it into words.

“It’s just crazy. We’ve been through some ups and downs this season and to come out the end of it and be in a Europa League Final - wow, what an achievement.

“The lads give absolutely everything every time they set foot on the grass. It doesn’t go our way sometimes but we absolutely give everything every single time and we’ve done it again.

“They are a phenomenal team and were going to put pressure on us. We knew that so the gameplan changed a little bit in the second half to try and keep the zero.

“They were gaining momentum but thankfully I just anticipated the knockdown and put it in the back of the net.

“It’s the best night of my career by a country mile. Playing in the Premier League was a massive achievement for myself but to get into the Europa League Final is just... wow."

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