QPR must learn the lessons from their midweek defeat to Rotherham if they are to improve as a side, according to boss Mark Warburton. 

The R’s missed the chance to move up into the Championship top ten after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the New York Stadium on Tuesday evening. 

That was despite the visitors dominating possession and taking the lead in the 52nd minute through in-form striker Lyndon Dykes, who scored his fourth goal in three games. 

But the West London side could not hold onto that advantage, with Freddie Ladapo scoring twice as the hosts found the net three times in 25 minutes to turn the game around – and that left QPR’s boss immensely frustrated. 

“Having gone one-nil up and in control of the game, we should have then have closed it out better,” Warburton said. 

“Collectively, we’ve got to learn from that game. We’ve got to be better as a team, stop the crosses at source. We let ourselves down for the last 30 minutes and paid the price.” 

With five games remaining and no chance of making the play-offs nor sliding into a relegation fight, you would be forgiven for thinking the R’s had little play for now. 

But, that’s not the way Warburton sees it. 

Next up, his side travel to face a Middlesbrough outfit who are one place and one point above them in the table. 

And overtaking their weekend opponents is the only motivation Warburton believes his side should need. 

“We had a chance on Tuesday to go ninth and then playing Middlesbrough it would have been a case of putting five points between us and them,” he added. 

“These are the type of targets we’ve got to set ourselves and be aggressive and push. 

“[Middlesbrough are] very organised, very hard-working, know their jobs. They’ve played with a three on many occasions. 

“His [Neil Warnock] team undoubtedly will be hard-working, organised and motivated for what is a very important game. 

“We’re going to Middlesbrough, great stadium, great club, big pitch, chance for us to go top ten, there shouldn’t need to be any motivation for that.”