FOULKES: GERS OUT TITLE RACE

HEARTS chairman George Foulkes last night wrote off Rangers' title hopes - and insisted it's a two-horse race between his club and Celtic.

Foulkes' astonishing claim comes on the eve of the leaders' clash with Hibs at Easter Road where their unbeaten league record faces a stern test.

Rangers slipped 11 points behind the Gorgie club on Wednesday evening when they were held to a draw at Livingston while Hearts, who are three clear of Celtic, overcame Kilmarnock.

It's a gap Foulkes insisting Rangers have no chance of making up.

He said: "I think it's fantastic. At the end of the season it is most likely that Hearts and Celtic will be fighting it out for the top position in the SPL.

Rangers seem to be slipping now.

"I think Celtic are going to be our major competition at the end of the season.

"Rangers are not posing the same kind of challenge."

Hearts have already beaten Rangers this term and are still unbeaten after 12 league games.

Foulkes yesterday attended the funeral of former Fulham and England captain Johnny Haynes. Sir Bobby Robson, one of the favourites to take over at Tynecastle, was also present.

However, Foulkes admits it's unlikely a new boss will be in place for tomorrow's eagerly-awaited encounter at Easter Road, leaving caretaker manager John McGlynn to look after team affairs for the third time.

He said: "We are not rushing for an appointment for Saturday - we are taking it one game at a time.

"The team is doing well and John is working well as an acting manager. It's important we get the right person and Sir Bobby Robson is one we are looking at but John is in charge for Saturday."

Meanwhile, striker Edgaras Jankauskas reckons facing Hibs will be a breeze compared to crossing swords with Benfica.

The Lithuanian striker is set for his first appearance in the Edinburgh derby after missing the Jambos' 4-0 rout of their rivals in August through injury.

Jankauskas, 30, warmed up for the visit to Easter Road with the winner against Kilmarnock - only his second league strike for the club.

Jankauskas, on loan from Kaunas, has been struck by the camaraderie of rival fans in Scotland - and it beats being struck by bricks and bottles.

The former Porto star revealed that was the scenario he faced every time he lined up for Jose Mourinho's side against Benfica at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon.

Ironically, Champions League winner Jankauskas was first brought to the attention of Mourinho when he joined Benfica on loan for five months in 2002, impressing so much it persuaded Porto to fork out £1.6million to sign him from Real Sociedad.

Jankauskas said: "Derbies are always special games. The greatest memory was when Porto played against Benfica.

"It was unreal, the stadium was always full of 50,000 fans. The fans are really fanatical and much more aggressive than you find in Scotland.

"Here they are friendlier towards each other and you can even see them walking to the games together or drinking in the same bars.

"Over there they fight and on the way to the game you can see the blood in the streets and cars that have been set on fire

Taken from the Daily Record