DARREN McGregor today vowed to help ease the pressure on under-fire Rangers manager Ally McCoist - by ensuring the Ibrox club avoid any more slip-ups on the park.

McGregor was devastated to see McCoist get subjected to more abuse from Gers supporters after the shock Petrofac Training Cup defeat to minnows Alloa last Wednesday night because the centre-half, who had been played out of position at right-back, felt his slack play was partially to blame for the embarrassing reverse to Barry Smith's part-time side.

However, the defender helped to ensure the Gers got back to winning ways with a 1-0 win over Cowdenbeath in the SPFL Championship at Ibrox.

And the former St Mirren player has revealed he is determined to make amends for the disappointing result by securing the victories that safeguard McCoist's position as boss. He said: "The gaffer has been great with me. He has taken me under his wing. He believes in me and that gives me confidence. I'm just hoping we can do our talking on the pitch.

"I think you also feel you have let yourself down and the club down as well. This club has a great heritage and the fans demand so much. To be in the situation where you let things slip affects everybody. It's painful.

"I think you are always going to be questioned when you have bad results like that. The gaffer is big enough and brave enough to deal with that. He is a great character and a great man-manager.

"I'm sure he will deal that. We just need to concentrate on what happens on the pitch and getting results for him. That will obviously ease the pressure on him."

Rangers remained nine points behind leaders Hearts in the Championship table despite their nail-biting 1-0 win over Cowdenbeath. Robbie Neilson's side thrashed third-placed Queen of the South 4-1 at Tynecastle to maintain their comfortable advantage over their nearest rivals at the top of the second-tier table.

However, McGregor is still optimistic the Ibrox club, who lost 2-0 to the Jambos away from home last month, can reduce the gap on the capital club in the weeks ahead and land the title.

He said: "Hearts are doing great. Hats off to Robbie Neilson. They don't look as if they are going to get beaten at the moment. I'm not going to make any bold statements. It is up to us to keep winning our games, putting the pressure on and seeing where it takes us. Going on the evidence they have produced so far then you could say they will keep their run going because they haven't been beaten.

"But football is a funny game and stranger things have happened. But we really just need to concentrate on ourselves and forget that Hearts are nine points in front. All we can do is take each game as it comes.

"It was a really poor result against Alloa the other night and you do feel bad for a couple of days. But you get over it and move on. That's what we have to do."