GAFFER IN A JAM

HEARTS gifted the Champions League chase back to Rangers yesterday as another storm erupted over who is picking the Jambos team.

The Tynecastle side crashed 2-1 to bitter rivals Hibs at Easter Road.

But gaffer Valdas Ivanauskas refused to reveal why star men Andy Webster and Edgaras Jankauskas were demoted to the stand while midfielder Rudi Skacel was dumped on the bench.

He stonewalled inquiries and insisted: "Only questions about the team who played please."

The mystery fuelled the season-long speculation over Jambos owner Vladimir Romanov's influence on team selection. And Hearts keeper Craig Gordon dropped a strong hint that team orders were coming right fromthe very top.

The Scotland No.1 was asked if he was surprised his international team-mate had been left out in favour of rookies Ibrahim Tall and Christophe Berra. But he would only say: "That's notmycall - that's down to people higher up thanme in the club.

"They put out a team probably still capable of getting three points."

Asked if he meant by "people higher up" the head coach, he smiled: "Let's just say I mean people higher up than me."

Earlier in the season George Burley revealed that he'd had no say in the arrival of Tall and Sammy Camazzola to the club.

And Graham Rix suffered the same fate when he was told to leave Webster out of their 1-1 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice because he was stalling on signing a new deal.

Now the centre half has missed two games on the bounce at a crunch time.

Hearts' defeat now means Rangers have second place in their own hands IF they win their final four games - including a potential winner takes all finale against Hearts at Ibrox.

Ivanauskas insisted the 11 men who DID play should still have had enough talent to win. Derek Riordan's opener - the subject of a huge offside appeal - was countered on the stroke of the break by Roman Bednar.

But Moroccan hi tkid Abdessalam Bejelloun brought down Easter Road with his 78thminute winner.

Ivanauskas fumed: "I don't think every one of my players understood the importance of the derby.

"I was angry at half time but what I said will stay private.

"But if we want to make the Champions League we need to play for 90 minutes not just 45.

We now need to fight and work hard for the rest of our games.

"Congratulations to Hibs. They played well and we have to remember Rangers have still to come here."

Gordon echoed those sentiments and insisted: "We've got a five-point lead and I know Rangers would rather be in our position.

"I'm also sure Rangers will drop points between now and the end of the season. But it's still in our own hands."

Gordon also revealed his anger at Riordan's opening goal with Steven Fletcher clearly offside and in the big keeper's line of sight as the shot flew in.

He sighed: "The rules have been muddied a bit this year but it was still pretty clear to me that Fletchwas interfering with play.

"But keepers don't get much of a break when it comes to calls like that."

Taken from the Sunday Mail