Middlesbrough's hopes of automatic promotion were dealt another blow at Loftus Road as they were simply blown away by QPR.

Bryan Robson's boys were determined to bounce back against lowly QPR after their 4-0 thrashing at Nottingham Forest on Sunday but a devastating spell of four goals in 13 first-half minutes sent them packing.

On 32 minutes Rangers snatched the lead with a freak goal. Mark Kennedy's cross looked like being easily cleared by defender Steve Vickers but his swipe at the ball saw it hook behind him and over Andy Dibble's head into the net.

That seemed to spur Rangers and five minutes later it was two in equally bizarre circumstances. Early substitute Paul Bruce hit a ball in from the left touchline which took a slight deflection and flew into the top corner.

There was no fluke about the third a minute later. Kennedy's superb 30-yard pass found Kevin Gallen who rounded the keeper before expertly shooting through a crowd of players.

Mike Sheron grabbed the fourth right on half time when Gallen nipped the ball through for him to curl a shot past Dibble from 20 yards.

Robson took off Michael Thomas, Nigel Pearson and Craig Hignett at half-time, bringing on Mikkel Beck and Alun Armstrong to form a four-man attack.

It was a bold move and it almost paid off a minute into the second half when Paul Merson's corner was headed on by Beck only for David Bardsley to head it against the crossbar and away.

They soon paid for their adventure though when Rangers grabbed a fifth on 53 minutes. Kennedy got down the left and his cross was perfect for Sheron to head home his second goal. The frustration was setting in for Boro and on 64 minutes Andy Townsend paid the price.

Just 20 seconds after being booked for a tussle with Gallen he tripped Nigel Quashie and the referee gave him his second yellow card.

Rangers threatened to run riot and man of the match Kennedy, as well as Bruce and Sheron, had shots well saved while all Boro had to offer were long-range efforts from Beck and Merson which flew over the bar.

It was the first time this season that Boro have lost two games on the trot in the league and the Coca-Cola Cup finalists will now be looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack.

Teams:

QPR: Harper, Bardsley, Morrow, Kulcsar, Ready, Yates, Perry (Bruce 7), Quashie (Heinola 89), Sheron, Gallen (Slade 83), Kennedy.

Booked: Yates, Gallen.

Goals: Vickers 32 og, Bruce 37, Gallen 38, Sheron 45, 53.

Middlesbrough: Dibble, Festa, Fleming, Vickers, Pearson (Maddison 45), Mustoe, Hignett (Armstrong 45), Townsend, Branca, Merson, Thomas (Beck 45).

Sent Off: Townsend (64).

Booked: Townsend.

Att: 11,580

Ref: A P D'Urso (Billericay).