Michael Beale admitted the World Cup break will come at a good time for QPR as his side slumped to a third defeat in four games courtesy of a 2-1 loss to Huddersfield Town at Loftus Road. 

Josh Ruffels’ first-half brace overcame Lyndon Dykes’ opener for the hosts to help the Championship’s basement side to only a fifth win of the season with the R’s now only inside the play-off places on goal difference. 

It continued a rotten run of form for the Hoops, who also lost to 22nd-placed West Brom on Saturday with the Rangers having not won a game since manager Beale turned down the attentions of Premier League side Wolves. 

A trip to Coventry City on Saturday is the final fixture before a hiatus for the World Cup, and while Beale is not pressing the panic button just yet, he feels the break couldn’t be better timed.  

“This is our lull,” added Beale. “Norwich had one recently, Sheffield United have had one. 

“The fact that we are in and around the play-offs is a positive but we have just played two teams in the bottom three at home and lost both of them – that’s not good enough. 

“This last week or so has not been good enough. It’s our sticky patch. We need to wake up.” 

“We have got one big game to go on Saturday and we will rally ourselves for that. We are more than capable of going and getting a positive result but it looks like the break has come at a good time 

The Rs have been unexpectedly flying high this season in Beale’s debut campaign as a manager, having previously worked as a coach or assistant, most recently operating as Steven Gerrard’s number two. 

But the Hoops’ stellar start has come to a screeching halt with a sudden drop in form, a 0-0 draw against Norwich City their only point from the last 12 on offer. 

Rangers’ wretched form was compounded by a humbling 2-1 defeat to the Terriers, who remain two points adrift at the bottom of the Championship despite their win. 

The evening got off to a flyer for the hosts, as Dykes marked a century of appearances in blue and white with the opener after just 81 seconds. 

However, any hope of a change in fortunes was swiftly extinguished, as Ruffels equalised seven minutes later before producing a stunning looped finish to score the eventual winner before the break. 

“Tonight we didn’t deserve anything from the game because we didn’t defend our box from two set-plays, it is as simple as that,” said Beale. 

“It was a bit of a kids’ game at times in the first half, it was all over the place. 

“We know that away at Luton, Huddersfield scored two or three from set plays and we knew they would be big in the game.  

“We didn’t respect it and we’ve lost in the boxes.