Chris Cadden names the 2 Hibs stars who make David Gray's team BETTER as he takes positives from Rangers display

Hibs missed big chances to rattle Rangers but Chris Cadden believes their Ibrox performance shows the progress they are making under David Gray.

The Easter Road outfit lost 1-0 but it could have been so different if Mykola Kukharevych hadn’t had his penalty saved and sub Dwight Gayle had netted a big, late chance. Hibs, particularly in the second half, were excellent and Cadden believes Gray’s new-look side is now taking shape and there were still plenty of positives to take.

"That's what the gaffer's message was to the boys,” Cadden admitted. "You are never happy losing games, especially at a team the size of Hibs. You want to win every game you play in, but there were a lot of positives. It was also a good performance to build on - it's not really a kick start to the season. But we can kick on from here. It will be a big one next week [against Motherwell] so we will take the positives and go on.”

Veteran striker Gayle could have made an instant impact when he got on the end of Cadden’s inviting cross. The Hibs midfielder said: “I’ve spoken to him after, he says it might have hit his header too well. It's really, really close.

“These are the sorts of breaks of luck you need to go your way, especially at places like Ibrox. With the penalty and Dwight's header, these are big chances that probably need to go in if you want to take anything. It's the luck you need here.”

Cadden has also backed Kukharevych to bounce back after Jack Butland saved his spot kick. The former Motherwell player insisted: ”He's a striker, he'll be fine. He's down, but he had the courage to go take the penalty, it's not easy.

“I’ve been there and done it, unfortunately missed penalties happen. He's fine, he'll be alright.”

Hibs in recent seasons