The U’s have won just one of their last 14 Sky Bet Championship games, and put in a tame performance in their 2-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers last night.

United mustered just one shot on target, that coming via a Brannagan 25-yard strike which took a slight nick and flew into the gloves of Paul Nardi.

READ ALSO: Blame not with individual errors says U’s boss

Brannagan said: “I’m frustrated to be honest because there was nothing in the game in the first half. We had full control and looked after the ball.

“We didn’t really hurt them and we have to be better. That’s as a collective because when you get into good areas, you have to punish teams.

“If you don’t hurt teams, then teams will hurt you in the Championship. There’s nothing in the game and then all of a sudden, bang-bang and you’re chasing the game.

“We need to be better than that and that’s the big frustration.

“We need to look at it as a collective and as a team, and what we can be better at. That’s the big learning curve because I did feel there was something there for us.

“That’s the big frustration. You look at the game and there’s nothing really in it until the goals, and then all of a sudden, you’re chasing the game.”

Sam Field netted a brace for the Hoops within a 15-minute window during the second half, with those goals enough to secure the points.

Brannagan said: “That’s the level. You get punished by good teams. I know QPR are down there at the minute, but they’ve got some great individuals.

“You make mistakes and you’ll get punished. That’s the level we’re at. We’ve strived for years to be here.

“We’re here now, so we’ve got to roll our sleeves up and say ‘let’s go’.

He added: “We’re going to need a bit of a belief and a bit of luck. We probably are lacking a bit of confidence as a collective, but we’re going to get round each other and we’re going to fight.

“We’ve been in these situations before. It’s one of them where you either sit there and moan about it or you crack on and look forward.

“We’ve got a massive game on Saturday to try and prove we’re more than good enough to be where we are.

“Players dip out of confidence and come back in confidence. You just need that self-belief. We’ll get round each other like we always do.

“It was never going to be easy this season, we said it from day dot, but we truly believe that we’re more than good enough to be here.

“We need to keep improving every day on the training field and pick up the confidence. Be confident on the ball and express yourself. Why not?”