Joey Barton: 'Queens Park Rangers must stay positive'

Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton has urged his teammates to stay upbeat following their late defeat to Southampton.

The R's failed to drag themselves out of the relegation zone on Saturday as they were beaten 1-0 at Loftus Road thanks to Sadio Mane's injury-time goal.

While he admits that the result was "absolutely devastating", Barton is eager for the squad to focus their attention to tomorrow's game at Sunderland.

"It is absolutely devastating but we have to pick ourselves up and go again," he told the club's official website. "Late in the game we suffered a couple of knocks that forced us to change personnel at the back and you wonder was that a contributing factor? But we have a game at Sunderland on Tuesday night and this league isn't one for feeling sorry for yourself."

Saturday's defeat saw QPR stretch their losing run to four matches in the Premier League.