JAMIE WALKER believes that Hearts' blistering start to the season has played a major role in Ally McCoist's departure from Rangers.

Hearts have heaped enormous pressure on their crisis-hit Ibrox rivals for the Championship title with a relentless accumulation of points.

Bidding for a sixth successive league win, the Tynecastle side head across the Forth for tonight's rearranged fixture against Cowdenbeath seeking to stretch their unbeaten run to an incredible 17 games, during which they have only dropped four points. A win would extend the league leaders' advantage over Rangers to a commanding 12 points and immediately place further strain on the reign of McCoist's successor, his ertswhile assistant Kenny McDowall.

After a turbulent period in their own history, under the roller-coaster stewardship of Vladimir Romanov and through 12 months in administration, Hearts' current stability contrasts wildly with the soap opera being played out in Govan and Walker reckons the ruthless form he and his team-mates have shown this season has been a contributing factor in the latest drama to unfold at Ibrox.

The 21-year-old, who became a father to baby boy Jace earlier this month, said: "We are happy to be nine points in front right now but everyone would be buzzing to be 12 points clear at Christmas. I don't think anyone thought we would be in this position. We all thought Rangers would win most of their games, but beating them twice has been huge for us.

"It's impossible not to notice what is happening there; you want to know what's going on. There's a lot of instability there, which has helped us.

"A few of the boys were saying their manager going was because we have been doing so well. They've lost a few games but if we hadn't been going as well then it wouldn't have seemed quite so bad."

Robbie Neilson, the head coach, was a surprise choice to work under director of football Craig Levein when new owner Ann Budge's regime began in the summer, but the former stalwart defender has proved an inspired choice for the dugout His team's near-flawless record on the pitch this term has been matched by a calm approach off the pitch from the composed and methodical 34-year-old.

Neilson expressed his sympathy for McCoist yesterday when quizzed on the latest developments to have emerged from his team's closest rival for promotion, but insisted he was keen to keep his focus firmly on his own team and club. To that effect, the former Hearts and Leicester City defender admitted he felt fortunate to be working at a club where stability had firmly replaced the previous chaos.

He said: "We've been through a difficult period here for a number of years, and I think a lot of clubs have now gone through the process, or will eventually go through it.

"We're in a lucky position now in that we're pretty stable. Ann has come in with the Foundation, we've got Craig and myself happy where we are, all working hard.

"We're all working in the same direction. There are no parties trying to pull us apart or anything like that. So, yeah, we're probably in the best shape we've been for a long, long time.

"I think we are possibly the envy of a lot of clubs, although there are a lot of good clubs out there: stable clubs who have gone through a lot of financial heartache. The majority of clubs have gone through it or will go through it, because we all need to live according to our means. If that means cuts here and there, so be it."

Neilson took his first-team squad to Cowdenbeath for a pre-season game in the summer because he wanted to acquaint them with the unique surroundings they would encounter at Central Park this term on league duty. He believes the dilapidated stadium, bumpy pitch and wintry conditions likely to greet them this evening will make the match as much of a test as his players have faced in going to Ibrox to face Rangers or Easter Road for the last Edinburgh derby.

He added: "I think this game is every bit as big a challenge as going to Ibrox. It's just a different sort of challenge. The emphasis is on us to go and win the game, handle the stadium and the conditions, and so far we've handled everything that's been thrown at us.

"We need to carry on like that. I never want to lose the unbeaten run anywhere: Cowdenbeath, Easter Road or Ibrox. We want to continue winning games."