JASON HOLT insists Rangers won’t take their foot off the gas and coast through to the end of the Championship campaign.

Mark Warburton’s side suffered defeat in their first league game since being crowned champions as they went down 3-2 to promotion chasing Hibernian at Easter Road last night.

Boss Warburton was keen to play down the impact that the energy-sapping Scottish Cup clash with Celtic on Sunday had on his players but was left to rue a sloppy defensive showing from his side.

READ MORE: Hibernian 3-2 Rangers: Mark Warburton's side suffer defeat at Easter Road

Rangers found themselves two down early on as Jason Cummings capitalised on an error from a Gers throw-in before keeper Wes Foderingham fumbled an Anthony Stokes cross into his own net.

Holt gave Rangers hope before the break but a Niklas Gunnarsson strike rendered a superb late effort from Barrie McKay meaningless as Alan Stubbs’ side held on.

Rangers have three league outings against Alloa, Livingston and St Mirren to come in the next few days before attentions turn to the Scottish Cup showdown with Hibs.

READ MORE: Hibernian 3-2 Rangers: Mark Warburton's side suffer defeat at Easter Road

And Holt is determined the Light Blues will recover from their Capital defeat and get back on track as they look to end the campaign in style.

He said: “It definitely hurts. Any game that you lose is not nice and tonight is no different.

“It was a really disappointed changing room after the game.

“If you give away goals of that manner and in that nature it is difficult to get back in the game so that was disappointing.

“But I thought we dominated the football for large spells of the game, most of the game, without really creating too much, which was disappointing.

“No not at all [there was no physical hangover]. You saw in the last ten minutes that boys were making the runs they were in the first ten minutes of the game so that certainly wasn’t a problem.

READ MORE: Hibernian 3-2 Rangers: Mark Warburton's side suffer defeat at Easter Road

“I would disagree massively [that the motivation is missing]. Since the league is won, we are not a squad or group of boys to take our foot off the gas.

“If anything, we will be working even harder because we want to finish the season on a high.

“It is something the manager has drilled into us and we won’t be easing off or taking our foot off the gas. We want to go stronger and we will be working hard in training and trying to take that into games.”

Rangers will lift the Championship silverware when they host Alloa this weekend before they round off the league fixture list with a trip to Livingston next midweek and a clash against St Mirren a week on Sunday.

While Hibs will be battling for promotion as they look to join Warburton’s side in the top flight, the Gers will have three weeks off to prepare for their Hampden showdown.

READ MORE: Hibernian 3-2 Rangers: Mark Warburton's side suffer defeat at Easter Road

But Holt insists the Light Blues won’t allow their minds to drift to a shot at Scottish Cup glory as they bid to clinch a third medal this term.

He said: “We will go into that game like we do every other and looking to win it. But we have got games before that that we will be focusing on. Our message throughout the season has been one game at a time so that won’t change.”

It may have been a disappointing night for Rangers as they suffered only their fourth league defeat of the season but the performance of McKay was once again one of the highlights for boss Warburton.

The forward capped a Man of the Match performance with a stunning strike against Celtic on Sunday and he again found the target from distance with a terrific effort at Easter Road.

It may have proved in vain as the Gers failed to snatch a point but Holt is pleased the 21-year-old is showcasing his ability for the champions.

He said: “He has been different class. He shows every day in training that he has got ability in abundance and I think his last couple of goals have shown that.”