The expectation may have been that Stuart McCall's installation at Rangers would have Hibernian glancing nervously over their shoulders, but Scott Allan insists their focus remains trained on the upward curve he hopes will bring them two-pronged success.

The Easter Road side comfortably racked up a seventh successive victory on Saturday, impressively negotiating what head coach Alan Stubbs branded a 'potential stumbling block'. An encounter with a Cowdenbeath side who had been humiliated just a fortnight previously by city rivals Heart of Midlothian may not have struck many as a gruelling contest but the rutted Central Park pitch made this particular trip to Fife one not to be relished.

With three points safely won, however, to discover that McCall's debut had failed to provide Rangers with the hoped-for fillip, Hibs' weekend efforts were a case of job well done. A five-point advantage over the Ibrox outfit now stretched to seven, the capital men know they will remain ahead no matter what happens when the Light Blues chalk off one of their games in hand against Alloa Athletic tomorrow and when they head for a potentially pivotal meeting of the sides at Easter Road on Sunday.

With the title and automatic promotion long since grudgingly conceded to Hearts, second place and the subsequent play-offs, and the Scottish Cup, in which they have a semi-final against Falkirk to look forward to next month, have become Hibs' twin ambitions and Allan is adamant they will not have their sights deflected.

"It does make it better when we come off and see Rangers have dropped points," he said. "It's good for us going into this weekend. We've just looked after ourselves and we just keep ticking over and getting the three points, and that's all we can do. The way we're going I think we'll be able to do that, and just keep going, and you never know what could happen come the end of the season.

"Sunday's another game, to be fair. If we keep playing the way we've been playing I'm sure we can pick up the three points again. Who knows whether they'll be a different prospect under Stuart McCall? It's still the same players. We look really confident just now and they're looking for a win and some goals.

"We're definitely the team on the up just now, so it will be interesting. We just want to build on the run we're on and keep going to the end of the season, and hopefully it can be a successful season for us."

Allan was again the pivot to much of Hibs' best attacking moments and his excellent diagonal ball sparked their 33rd-minute opener. The overlapping David Gray was the target of the pinpoint pass and the full-back's cutback was blasted into the roof of the net by the supporting Fraser Fyvie for the former Aberdeen youngster's first goal for the club.

Barely a minute later, Cummings doubled Hibs' lead with as strange a goal as Scottish football may see this season. Cowdenbeath midfielder Colin Marshall tried to find Robbie Thomson with a pass back from edge of the area but Cummings suddenly appeared from behind the keeper to glance the ball past him and into the net.

After being rested for the win over Livingston last midweek, Allan was in impressive form again but was as slippery as his on-field display when questioned on his international hopes after being tipped for a Scotland call-up in recent times.

"I'm just looking to do well for Hibs and hopefully get us back up and do well in the cup," he insisted as Gordon Strachan prepares to name his latest squad. "That's all I've been doing all season.

"A Scotland call-up would just be a bonus, obviously, but I've not even thought about it, to be honest. I'm just trying to do a job for us. It's opinions isn't it? I just looking after myself on the weekend for Hibs."