MARK Warburton defended his side’s preference for playing out from the back after mistakes cost QPR all three points as they were held 2-2 at home by Middlesbrough.

The visiting Boro had failed to score in their previous four games, but Britt Assombalonga’s opener 25 minutes in stretched Rangers’ sorry streak without a clean sheet, still yet to keep their opposition out in 16 Championship games so far this season.

But Warburton, who saw the R’s miss out on what would have been a first league win since October 19 as Assombalonga latched on to Ryan Manning’s sloppy back pass for a 69th-minute equaliser, refused to point blame at individuals.

“We defend as a team,” he said.

“It’s easier to pinpoint exact players in the defensive line but we defend as a unit. We score goals from the back - if defenders don’t get on the ball and make a pass then we don’t create chances further up the field.

“I saw the crowd getting a bit nervous when we were playing out from the back but if we are going to play out, some days you are going to make mistakes but that’s how you are going to learn.

“All credit to the players for keeping on going. When we did get out, we looked good, but it didn’t happen as often as I would like.”

With just two points from their last four Championship outings, Rangers have dropped from fifth to 10th in the table, and a failure to beat struggling Boro at Loftus Road has raised concerns from the home faithful.

But with the international break now in full swing, the former Brentford manager believes that a fortnight out of the limelight is just what his players need to re-launch their campaign.

“You can see how hard they have worked today, they need a rest,” Warburton continued.

“We are a tight squad and have had a few injuries; today we’ve had a left-back playing centre half and a midfielder playing central defence but that’s all credit to them.

“They have adapted well, so the international break will give us a chance to do some work but also rest.

“We will then prepare for the Fulham game which is going to be another tough test, but they are all tough games.”