Chris Cadden, like all his Hibernian team-mates, cut a dejected figure at full-time at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon.

A 'worldy', as head coach David Gray described it afterwards, from Tom Lawrence had given Rangers the narrowest of Scottish Premiership victories, made harder to take by Jack Butland saving Mykola Kukharevych's penalty in first-half injury time and a second-half onslaught by Hibs that yielded no goals, although substitute Dwight Gayle went close with a decent header. 

Another defeat at Ibrox, and it's now 11 games without a win against the Light Blues - ten defeats and one draw - but there was cause for optimism from this Hibs team's performance, along with a tinge of regret that they returned east along the M8 empty-handed. 

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Gray's summation post-match was 'mixed emotions'. 'You never accept losing games, but I can't fault the players' effort', he added. 

That was the message communicated to the players as well. Cadden, who kept his place in the starting line-up from the 2-0 victory over St Johnstone, albeit further up the pitch to accommodate the return at right-back of Lewis Miller, echoed his manager's sentiments afterwards.

"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 - and that's what the gaffer's message was to the boys. 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."

It was Cadden who perfectly picked out Gayle, the former Crystal Palace and Newcastle United forward rising to meet the cross with his forehead and beating Butland, only for the ball to drop agonisingly wide of the post. 

"You know what, I think [Gayle] did everything right as well," Cadden sighed.

"I spoke to him after, he said he 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," he admitted. 

Adding that Kukharevych was 'down, but will be fine' after his missed spot-kick, Cadden had words of praise for the Hibs defence, particularly centre-back pairing Marvin Ekpiteta and Warren O'Hora, who are forming a formidable partnership after a bit of a shaky start to life in the Scottish top flight.

"I thought they were brilliant. Defensively they were really good, but even on the ball, under a bit of pressure they put their foot on it," Cadden continued.

"They were really good in managing the game, knowing when to play it a little bit longer and knowing when to pass out. These two guys have been great ever since they came to the club.

"Warren's got the armband there - he's been absolutely brilliant since he came to the club, Marvin as well. They make our team better, which as a player you want. They have made an impact on the starting XI."

Cadden pointed also to the strength in depth Hibs now have, with Gayle, Dylan Levitt, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, and Élie Youan - all arguably capable of starting for Hibs - coming off the bench in the second half. The former Motherwell youngster has had to bide his time as well, picking up a minor injury during the Premier Sports Cup group stages and more often than not finding a role further up the pitch, rather than at right-back where he has played most games for Hibs.

"There was a lot of change in the summer and a lot of new players in, so it's going to take a little bit of time to adapt to that. But I think we are getting better every week and the gaffer said that as well. There's a really good spirit as well - I feel it's building a lot and the boys are getting more comfortable. Hopefully we can kick on.

"We've got flexibility as well. With what we've got and the size of the squad, the people coming on are really, really good as well. So when you are there and you are a little bit tired, you look at the bench and you've got Élie, Nathan, Dylan, and Dwight coming off the bench - it's a real proper squad. It's great to see.

"I thought the subs did well when they came on and improved the team. There's competition for places and at a club the size of Hibs, that's what you want."