Steve McClaren believes his players need to get back to being “hard to beat” if they are to stop the rot at Loftus Road.

The Rs have lost six successive games in the Championship and will be desperately trying to avoid making that seven when they face McClaren’s old side Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday.

“We’ve played very well in spells in games but the disappointing thing for me is that we have built a good run on being hard to beat,” said the QPR boss.

“We’re conceding too many goals and I don’t like that, that isn’t going to win you matches. If you score two at home you expect to either win or draw the game.

“No one likes it, you could easily feel sorry for yourself but you can’t have that attitude. The only way it will turn is to work harder and stick together.”

Middlesbrough are chasing promotion this season but have only managed to win one of their last four league games, form that McClaren will be hoping to take advantage of when he travels back to Riverside.

“We don’t fear anyone in this league on our day but we’ve got to make it our day,” he said.

“It was a long time ago now [since I was Middlesbrough manager] but I still live in the area and I know everybody. I’ve been back before so I’ve got over that.

“As long as the boys stick together and fight and give the sort of performances they have been doing then eventually we will get a result from that. What we mustn’t do is lose belief or confidence.”